Past Auction

Old Master Paintings & Drawings

Wed, Jan 30, 2019 at 10am EST |
New York
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Sale Total Far Surpassed Its Estimate Amid International Competitive Bidding

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  • Auction of Old Master Paintings & Drawings on January 30, 2019
  • Sale Total Far Surpassed Its Estimate Amid International Competitive Bidding
  • Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for the May 22, 2019 Auction of Old Master Paintings & Drawings

NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle's auction on January 30, 2019 saw exceptionally strong prices for Old Master Paintings and Drawings spanning the Italian Renaissance through the early 19th century. The sale featured a wide range of landscapes, still lifes, portraits and religious subjects that attracted international attention and fierce competition from both sides of the Atlantic.

With competitive bidding in the saleroom, on the telephones and via the Internet, the Old Masters auction totaled a successful $744,438, far surpassing its estimate of $248,800-419,800, with a remarkable 93% sold by lot and 98% sold by value.

An early work by the Florentine baroque artist Carlo Dolci (1616-1686), a small oval panel painting of St. Jerome in Penitence, soared from its estimate of $800-1,200 to a stunning $87,500. Dolci is best known for his mature works, which feature meticulous draftsmanship and enamel-like surfaces. His more vigorously executed early works are seldom seen, and that rarity resulted in an unusually high price for this piece.

Another painting that sold exceptionally well was an enigmatic depiction of an elegant procession by the little-known 17th century Bolognese artist Giovanni Andrea Donducci, called il Mastelletta (1575-1655), which achieved $68,750, far above its estimate of $3,000-$5,000. While Mastelletta's market has languished in recent years, this particularly fine example of his work in almost perfect condition reinvigorated collectors' enthusiasm for this eccentric master.

Perhaps the most surprising high point in the sale was the price fetched by a small oil sketch, painted en brunaille (in various tones of brown) on panel, portraying a man wearing a wide-brimmed hat. This compact piece, identified by scholars as a work by an artist in the circle of Sir Anthony van Dyck and estimated at $800-$1,200, sold for a remarkable $50,000. Speculation was rife that someone in the scholarly community had changed their mind -- or perhaps extended the "circle of Sir Anthony van Dyck" to include Peter Paul Rubens.

All prices include the Buyer's Premium.


We Invite You to Auction!

Consignments are currently being accepted for the May 22, 2019 auction of Old Master Paintings & Drawings. We invite you to contact us for a complimentary auction evaluation. Our specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.

For information, please contact Elaine Stainton, 212-427-4141, ext 249, Paintings@Doyle.com

Consignments are currently being accepted

To have your property evaluated for possible consignment in the next auction, please contact:

Peter Lang
212-427-4141, ext 274
Peter.Lang@Doyle.com

Media Contact

Louis LeB. Webre
SVP, Marketing & Media
212-427-4141, ext 232
Louis@Doyle.com

  • A Private Collection
  • A Prominent New York Family
  • An East Hampton Estate
  • Estate of Gertrude Wabnig
  • Estate of James Chip Dale
  • Estate of James W. Smith
  • Estate of Lili Israel
  • Estate of Marianne Schaller
  • Estate of Norman Israel
  • Estate of Peter Mayer
  • Estate of Suzanne Schrag
  • Property from a Beekman Place Apartment
  • Property from a California Private Collection
  • Property from a Philadelphia Private Collection
  • Property from a Prominent Connecticut Estate
  • Property from a West Coast Private Collection
  • Property from an Important Jewel Collector
  • Property from Los Angeles Designer Lauren King
  • Property from the Estate of Wendy Vanderbilt Lehman
  • Property of a Distinguished Maryland collector
  • Property of a Lady
  • Property of a Red Bank, New Jersey Private Collector
  • Property of a San Francisco Collector
  • Property of a Southern Lady
  • The Estate of a Gentleman, Park Avenue and Southampton, New York
  • The Estate of Barbara Wainscott
  • The Estate of Eleanor Close Barzin
  • The Noel and Harriette Levine Collection

A Selection of Auction Highlights

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