Strong Results for Property from the Estate of Giancarlo Baroni Lead Off Sotheby's Old Masters Week Sales
Sotheby’s 2013 Old Masters Week sales in New York began with the two-day sale of Property from the Estate of Giancarlo Baroni, which brought a strong total of $13,859,634, above pre-sale expectations of $8.4 – 12.1 million. Bidders from around the globe filled the salesroom and participated by phone and via the internet, actively pursuing works from the renowned Old Master connoisseur, collector and dealer’s collection, which ranged from 15th century gold ground paintings to works by El Greco, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Bernardo Bellotto and Giovanni Boldini, among others. The sale was led by Eva Gonzalès’ La demoiselle d’honneur, which achieved $2,546,500, more than four times its pre-sale high estimate of $600,000, and a new record for the artist at auction. The evening session alone brought in $11.6 million, well above the pre-sale high estimate of $9.4 million, with over 84% of lots sold.
The evening session began with an outstanding price achieved for lot 1, The Madonna and Child resting at a parapet by the Workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio, which was sought after by several bidders, finally selling for $842,500, nearly eight times the high estimate of $120,000. Other highlights included Bernardo Bellotto’s Venice, a view of the Molo, looking west, with the Palazzo Ducale and south side of the Piazzetta which brought a strong price of $1,258,500, and El Greco’s The entombment of Christ, which sold for $902,500. One of the most exciting moments of the sale came when Giovanni Boldini’s Lady in a yellow hat with her dog (Marchesa Casati) was pursued by two determined phone bidders who drove the final price to $866,500, over two times the high estimate of $300,000.
Sotheby’s Old Masters Week continues through 2 February 2013 with a calendar of upcoming sales below:
· Important Old Master Paintings and Sculpture – 31 January 2013 at 10.00 am and 2.00 pm; 1 February 2013 at 10.00 am
· Masterworks – 1 February 2013 at 11.30 am
· Old Master and 19th Century European Paintings and Drawings, including Property from the Estate of Giancarlo Baroni – 1 February 2013 at 2.00 pm; 2 February 2013 at 10.00 am
Watch: www.youtube.com/sothebys
