Old Masters

Our Friday TOP! Every other Friday Artprice posts a theme-based auction ranking. This week we present the Top 10 auction results for works by Old Masters.

Old Masters

Old masters are the pride of the most prestigious museums and a few collectors who are loathe to part with their masterpieces. A shortage of works, and the tempting prestige of a famous signature, means some paintings, but also drawings, are fetching spectacular bids. However, art lovers can turn to signatures that are less famous with the general public or drawings and prints that are everywhere on the market.

The Views of Venice at the top of Old Masters sales

Within the Painting segment, Old Masters works have always been considered as safe-haven assets, compared with modern or contemporary works. And the figures tend to confirm this trend. While prices for modern and contemporary paintings have climbed 33.2% and 41.1% respectively since April 2001, demand for pre-19th century paintings is today at the same level as five years ago.

TOP 10 ARTISTS

The Top 10 artists grossed USD 576 million in 2005, compared to USD 393 million in 2003, a figure that represents 13.6% of the total art auction market. Unusually, a contemporary artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and an old master, Canaletto, were among the top sellers. The top three names however are unchanged...

A peak in the art market in 2005?

The international art market has never performed so well. The figures are record-breaking!

In 2005 the turnover for Fine Art sales exceeded USD 4 billion, vs. USD 3.6 billion the previous year, despite a practically stable volume of 320,000 lots. This incredible progression came on the back of a price increase of 10.4%* last year, following on from the 19% rise already recorded in 2004. This price inflation translated into a multiplication of sales exceeding USD 1 million

Old Master Paintings: views of Venice at the forthcoming London sales

The traditional and prestigious London sales of Old Master Paintings at Sotheby’s and Christie’s will take place on 7 and 8 July. The auctions will be dominated by 18th Century Italian paintings.

Canaletto: Star of the auctions of Old Master Paintings at Christie’s and Sotheby’s

Antonio Canal CANALETTO will be the star attraction at both Christie’s and Sotheby’s on the 6 and 7 July 2005. Originating from the Champalimaud collection, Canaletto’s "The Bucintoro at the Molo on Ascension Day" should be one of the highlights of Christie’s London sale, with an estimate ranging from GBP 4-6 million. The auctions will also feature two other views of Venice by the same artist: Venice, "View of the Grand Canal from Palazzo Balbi to the Rialto Bridge" (GBP 6-8 million) and "Venice, View of the Grand Canal from Palazzo Flangini to S. Marcuola" (GBP 5-8 million).

As the world’s stock markets plunge Rubens’ "Massacre of the Innocents" drives the art market through the roof

On Wednesday 10 July 2002, "The Massacre of the Innocents" by Peter Paul RUBENS became the most expensive old master painting ever sold at auction. It was only recently identified as a Rubens having previously been attributed to the lesser-known Jan van den Hoecke. Once the painting’s authorship was clarified a record price was clearly on the cards, particularly as Peter Paul RUBENS ’ index has been in stunning form lately: +540% since 1997.