Old Masters

A couple of views of London were strongly contested at the latest Old Master auction series in the capital.

Quirky subjects generate the most eye-catching results at the latest Old Master auction series

When it was last on public view, at a Berlin exhibition in 1981, the Portrait of a Black Courtier was attributed to the early 18th century Prussian court painter Antoine Pesne.

Plenty of potential takers emerged for an early copy of Leonardo’s 'Madonna of the Rocks' at the Dorotheum (25/20.84% buyer’s premium) sale of Old Masters.

Once believed to be by Rubens, work hidden away during the war is now thought to be a copy by a pupil

The biggest surprise of Wendl’s (21% buyer’s premium) extensive general sale in Rudolstadt on October 25-28 was the seemingly never-ending exchange of bids for an early 18th century Old Master which had a starting price of €900.

A couple of headline lots, a scattering of rare and unusual pictures and one of the most valuable consignments of prints ever offered lifted the latest series of Old Master auctions in London.

Pictured here are two paintings by Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806) appearing on the French auction scene this season within the space of a month - one sold, the other upcoming.

Dealer Peter Harrison has sold a recently reidentified portrait by 17th century painter Mary Beale (1633-99) to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

Collection from unnamed vendor supplies some of the highest prices in a sale at the Drouot centre

This three-quarter-length portrait of an Elizabethan gentleman, attributed to the circle of the court painter George Gower (c.1540-96), hammered for $32,000 (£26,500) on October 15.

A small autograph version of the famous portrait of Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-92) in the permanent collection of the Royal Academy of Arts comes for sale at Hindman in Chicago on November 16.

Eleventh edition of the London event now widened in scope includes an impressive array of big results

Doyle’s (26% buyer’s premium) sale of Old Master and 19th century Paintings & Drawings in New York on October 19 was topped by a 15th or 16th century Flemish School oil on panel portrait of a soldier.