Past Auction

Old Master Paintings & Drawings

Wed, Oct 28, 2020 at 10am EDT |

New York

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Sale Totaled a Successful $255,125 Amid International Bidding

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Auction of Old Master Paintings and Drawings on October 28, 2020
Featuring Property from the Collection of Donald and Leona Kuba and the Collection of Gustav and Mira Berger
Old Master Paintings & Drawings Comprise Lots 1 - 105 in the October 28 Auction

NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle's auction on October 28, 2020 showcased Old Master Paintings and Drawings spanning the Italian Renaissance through the early 19th century. The sale was offered as a featured section of a larger auction that included Russian Works of Art (Read More) and English & Continental Furniture, Silver & Decorative Arts (Read More).

Among the range of paintings and drawings were landscapes, still lifes, portraits and religious and mythological subjects, highlighted by property from two distinguished collections: the Collection of Donald and Leona Kuba and the Collection of Gustav and Mira Berger.

With competitive international bidding, the Old Masters & Drawings totaled a successful $255,125 within the pre-sale estimate of $238,300-397,600 with a strong 81% sold by lot and an impressive 97% sold by value.

The top lot of the day was a marvelous still life attributed to the Dutch Golden Age artist Jacob Woutersz Vosmaer that achieved $15,000, tripling its $4,000-6,000 estimate. Property from the Collection of Gustave and Mira Berger, the still life featured a vase of colorful striped tulips surrounded by butterflies and other insects.

The Collection of Donald and Leona Kuba

Donald and Leona Kuba shared a gift for art. By profession he was a highly regarded attorney; she was an artist. Both had a keen eye for quality, a delight in discovery, and a scholar’s interest in the history and meaning of the objects they loved. They eagerly visited galleries and auction houses on the lookout for beautiful and interesting works of art, and along the way befriended dealers and art historians on both sides of the Atlantic. Together they built a personal and distinctive collection, notable both for its quality and its historical interest. They were connoisseurs in the old style: thoughtful, erudite, and enthralled. We at Doyle were honored to enjoy their friendship.

The Collection of Gustave and Mira Berger

Gustav and Mira Berger were the proprietors of Berger Art Conservation, Inc., in New York for almost 40 years. Mr. Berger was a paintings conservator of international renown, known for his innovative approaches to his profession. Most notably, he was the developer of BEVA, a now widely used adhesive in the art conservation field. He was also a teacher or considerable importance, having trained several generations of younger art conservators.

A Deeper Dive

Read a selection of essays by Specialist Elaine Stainton profiling some of the highlights from the auction. Read More

We Invite You to Auction!

Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. 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, [email protected]