Art/Auctions: The Courts of Europe Renaissance to Rococo at Sotheby's New York January 30, 2014

The Courts of Europe
Renaissance to Rococo
Sotheby's New York

Lot 101-143, 2 P.M., January 30, 2014

Sale 9107

Lot 108, Portrait of a Gyrfalcon, viewed from three sides, Lombard Master, oil on canvas, 29 3/4 by 39 5/8 inches

By Carter B. Horsley

The Courts of Europe Renaissance to Rococo auction January 30, 2014 at Sotheby's New York is highlighted by a wonderful painting by Boucher, a great Renaissance bronze, and a striking portrait of a gyrfalcon viewed from three sides.

Lot 108, "A Portrait of a Gyrfalcon, viewed from three sides," by a Lombard Master (1540-1560). An oil on canvas, it measures 29 3/4 by 39 5/8 inches. The gryfalcon is the largest of the falcon species. "Sumptuary laws of the eriod dictated that only the most elite nobility be permitted to hunt with gyrfalcons," the catalogue entry remarks. It has an estimate of $700,000 to $1,000,000. It sold for $3,189,000.

Lot 116, "Samson Slaying the Philistine," attributed to Willem van Tetrode, bronze, 14 1/2 inches high

Lot116 is a very impressive bronze of "Samson Slaying the Philistine" that is attributed to Willem van Tetrode (circa 1525-1580, probably Italian, Rome or Florence, circa 1562-7). It is 14 1/2 inches high. The catalogue entry states that this is an important "recent discovery" and that Tetrode "was an important Netherlandish sculpture who worked in Italy for half of his career, employed by celebrated artists iincluding Benvenuto Cellini and Guiglielmo della Porta. It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,0000. It sold for $3,301,000.

Lot 111, "Portrait of King EdwardVI,"by Guillim Scrots and workshop, oil on panel, 62 by 35 inches

Lot 111 is an imposing and fine portrait of King Edward VI by Guillim Scrots and workshop (active in England 1537-1553). An oil on panel, it measures 62 by 35 inches and is property of the Los Angles County Museum of Art. It once belonged to William Randolph Hearst. The catalogue entry notes that Scrots "was one of the most important artists working in the Tudor Court and the creator of arguably the most imporant official portrait of EdwardVI. The lot has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 131, "Cupid Releasing Two Doves," by Benjamin West, oil on panel, 56 3/8 by 39 1/4 inches

Lot 141 is a ravishing and large oil on panel by Benjamin West (1738-1820) that is entitled "Cupid Releasing Two Doves." It measures 56 3/8 by 39 1/4 inches. It has been widely published. It has a modest estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 125, "The Sleep of Venus," by Francois Boucher, oil on canvas, oval, 40 3/8 inches high

Lot125 is a quintessential work by Francois Boucher (1703-1770), an oval oil on canvas of "The Sleep of Venus." It is 40 3/8 inches high and once was in the collection of Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, the Marquise de Pompadour, possibly in the King's bedroom at the Chateau de Bellevue. The Marquise was the official mistress of King Louis XV. The catalogue notes that "the painting is known from the early literature to have one of a pair. It has a modest estimate of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. It sold for $2,405,000.

Lot 124, "A Young Woman Adorning Her Powdered Coiffure with a Spray of Roses," left, and "A Young Blonde Woman with a Garland of Roses Around her Neck," right, by Jean-Honoré Fragonard, oil on canvas, the former 32 1/2 by 25 7/8, the latter 32 1/2 by 25 3/4 inches

Lot 124 is a charming pair of paintings of young girls by Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806). Oils on canvas, they measure approximately 32 1/2 by 25 3/4 inches. The catalogue entry states that they are "previously unrecorded and unpublished' and "epitomise the combination of virtuoso paintwork and rococo elegance which made him the most brilliant and versatile painter in eighteeenth century France. The lot has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $935,000.

Lot 107, Tondo with a bust of a young woman, by Giovanni Della Robbia and workshop, glazed terracotta, 37 1/2 inches in diameter

Lot 107 is a lovely glazed terracotta by Giovanni Della Robbia (circa 1469-1529) and workshop, Italian, Florence, early 16th Century. The work is 37 12 inches in diameter. Giovanni was a nephew of Luca Della Robbia who founded the workshop. The lot has an estimate of $250,000 to $450,000. It sold for $281,000.