Art/Auctions: Important Old Master Paintings at Sotheby's New York, January 29, 2015

Master Paintings
Part 1
Sotheby's New York

Lot 1-105, 10 A.M., January 29, 2015
Lot 201-368, 3 P.M., January 30, 2014

Sale 9302

Constanble

Lot 96, "Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows," by John Constable, oil on canvas, 18 by 24 inches

By Carter B. Horsley

The January 29, 2015 auction of Master Paintings Part I at Sotheby's New York is highlighted by numerous excellent works including a fabulous study by John Constable, a lovely Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, a Guercino, an excellent still life by Pieter Claesz, several fine Roberts, and good works by Carpaccio, Tiepolo, Noel-Nicolas Coypel, Lorenzo Pasinelli, Panini, Allori, the Brueghels, El Greco, Spapgnoletto, and an artist associated with Rogier van der Weyden.

Lot 96 is a very painterly small study for "Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows," a major painting by John Constable (1776-1837) at the Tate Museum in London. There are several other versions including a fine bright large one at the Frick Collection in New York. This painting was once in the collection of the Viscounts Hambleden at Hambleden Manor in Buckinghamshire. It has a modest estimate of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. It sold for $5,205,000.

Lot 16, "The Lamentation, with the Madonna and Saints, Joseph of Arimathea and John the Evangelist," by Vittore Carpaccio, oil on panel, 17 by 14 inches

Lot 16, "The Lamentation, with the Madonna and Saints, Joseph of Arimathea and John the Evangelist," is an oil on panel by Vittore Carpaccio (1450-1522). It measures 17 by 14 inches and was once in the collection of Count Alessandro Contini-Bonacossi of Florence. It was exhibited in the exhibition on the artist in 1963 at the Palazzo Ducale in Venice and has been widely published. It is not as crisp and brilliant as a slightly bigger and better work by the artist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The catalogue notes that Carpaccio is "one of the rarest and most talented artists of the Venetian Renaissance. It has an estimate of $1,500,000 to $2,000,000. It sold for $2,853,000.

Lot 8, "The Descent from the Cross," by Circle of Rogier van der Weyen, oil on panel, 26 1/8 by 21 3/4 inches, circa 1460

Lot 8 is a magnificent "Descent from the Cross" that the catalogue states is by the Circle of Rogier van der Weyden, circa 1460. An oil on panel, it measures 26 1/8 by 21 3/4 inches. It would not be difficult to attrribute this beautiful panel to Rogier and the only weak points are the modeling of two of the faces and the cloths handing down from the body of Christ. The three large hats, in particular, are very, very fine. The composition, ofcourse, is not as dramatic and complex as Rogier's "Descent" at the Prado in Madrid, but two of the faces are nearly identical.

Detail of Lot 8

This lot has a very modest estimate of $300,000 to $400,000. It sold for $665,000.

Lot 6, "The Madonna of the Cherries," by Quinten Massys, oil on panel, 29 1/4 by 24 3/4 inches

Lot 6, "The Madonna of the Cherries," by Quinten Massys (1466-1530), is an oil on panel that measures 29 1/3 by 24 3/4 inches. It was once in the collection of Bob Guccione of New York and has been loan for the last five years to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Two experts have found 13 versions of this composition but maintain that only this and another in the Mauritishuis in the Hague are by Massys. It has an estimate of $1,500,000 to $2,000,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 71, "David with the Head of Goliath," by Bernardo Strozzi, oil on canvas, 46 by 38 3/4 inches

Lot 71 is a very, very fine painting by Bernardo Strozzi (1581-1644) of "David with the Head of Goliath." An oil on canvas, it measures 46 by 38 3/4 inches. It is property of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and has been widely exhibited. It is hardly a work for a museum, especially the Metropolitan, to get rid of. It has a modest estimate of $60,000 to $80,000. It sold for $137,000.

Lot 75, "Marcus Curtius leaping into the abyss," by Pontormo, oil on panel, 21 7/8 by 44 7/8 inches

Lot 75 is an oil on panel of "Marcus Curtius leaping into the abyss." The catalogue states that it is by Pontormo (1494-1556) and sites such recent attributions by Andrea De Marchi in 2012 and Carlo Falciani in 2013. The faces of the two women on the right, however, have none of the remarkable grace and elegance we associate with Pontormo and the putti is very, very cute but a bit too animated and the soldier is awkward and where is the abyss. The painting has a sketchy quality but it is not small. The catalogue notes that Marcus Curtius, according to Livy, "devoted himself to death" when an earthquake opened up a chasm in the Forum in Rome. Costamagna noted in the catalogue for the Pontormo exhibition in 1994 in Milan that this was "probably by a student of Andrea del Sarto." has an estiamte of $300,000 to $500,000. It sold for $365,000.

Lot 46, "Saint Paul," by Spagnoletto, oil on canvas, 39 3/4 by 29 5/8 inches

Lot 46 is a very strong and imposing oil on canvas of "Saint Paul" by Spagnoletto (1591-1652) who is described in the catalogue was the most important painter active in Naples. It measures 39 3/4 by 29 5/8 inches. Noting the work's "intense realism and immediacy of his handling paint," the catalogue wrote that "this veracity lends his pictures of this type a powerful dignity," It has an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 48, "Saint Anthony Abbot," attributed to Velasquez, oil on canvas, 30 by 26 inches

Lot 48 is a good portrait of "Saint Anthony Abbot" that is attributed to Velasquez (1599-1660). An oil on canvas, it measures 30 by 26 inches. The catalogue entry suggests that it is a study for a painting known as "St. Anthony the Abbot and St. Paul the First Hermit" byu Velasquez at the Prado. It ha an estimate of $100,000 to $150,0000. It sold for $173,000.

Lot 55, "Head of an old man," attributed to Jan Lievens, oil on panel, 23 1/8 by 16 7/8 inches

Lot 55 is a nice oil on panel of the head of an old man that is attributed to Jan Lievens (1607-1674) who was in competition with Rembrandt in Leiden. It measures 23 1/8 by 16 7/8 inches. It has an estimate of $180,000 to $220,000. It sold for %173,000.

Lot 54, "Paradise Landscape with the animals entering Noah's Ark," by Jan Brueghel the Elder, oil on copper, 10 1/8 by 14 inches, 1596

Lot 54 is a fine version of "Paradise Landscape with the animals entering Noah's Ark" by Jan Brueghel the Elder. An oil on copper, it measures 10 1/8 by 14 inches and was painted in 1596. It has an estimate of $3,500,000 to $4,500,000. It sold for $3,973,000.

Lot 52, "Venus at the Forge of Vulcan," by Jan Brueghel the Younger, oil on panel, 29 3/8 by 50 inches

Lot 52 is a large oil on panel by Jan Brueghel the Younger (1601-1678) entitled "Venus at the Forge of Vulcan." It measures 29 3/8 by 50 inches. According to Virgil, there was a cavern leading from Mount Etna in Sicily that was the location of Vulcan's Forge and Vulcan presented his wife, Venus, with a shield that she will later give to her son, Aeneas and Brueghel depicts Cupids presenting Venus with Aeneas's helmet.

Detail of Lot 60

The lot has an estimate of $1,200,000 to $1,600,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 41, "Saint Joseph," by El Greco, oil on canvas, 26 1/4 by 22 inches

Lot 41 is an oil on canvas portrait of "Saint Joseph" by El Greco (circa 1541-1614). It measures 26 1/4 by 22 inches. It has an estimate of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. It sold for $2,741,000.

Lot 72, "Triumph of Virtue," by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, oil on canvas, 21 by 15 3/4 inches

Lot 72 is a small but excellent oil on canvas by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (see The City Review article) entitled "Triumph of Virtue." It measuires 21 by 15 3/4 inches. It was acquired from Georges Hoentschel of Paris by J. Pierpont Morgan and given to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 1907 and is being offered at auction by the museum. It has a conservative estimate of $150,000 to $200,000. It sold for $545,000.

Lot 89, "Venus and her Companions," by Noel-Nicolas Coypel, oil on canvas, 31 7/8 by 25 5/8 inches

Lot 89 is a very voluptuous and fine oil on canvas of "Venus and Her Companions " by Noel-Nicolas Coypel (1660-1734). It measures 31 7/8 by 25 5/8 inches. It has an estimate of $300,000 to $400,000. It sold for $317,000.

Lot 73, "The Penitent Magdalene," by Guercino, oil on canvas, 44 1/4 by 36 3/8 inches

Lot 72 ia very fine persion of "The Penitent Magdalene" by Guercino (1591-1666). An oil on canvas, it measures 44 1/4 by 36 3/8 inches. It has an estimate of $700,000 to $900,000. It sold for $845,000.

Lot 66, "The Penitent Magdalene," by Lorenzo Pasinelli, oil on canvas, 36 by 33 inches

An even better version is Lot 66 by Lorenzo Pasinelli (1629-1700). An oil on canvas, it measures 36 by 33 inches. It was once in the collection of Walter P. Chrysler Jr. of Norfolk, Virginia and has been widely exhibited and published. There is a similar composition that was formerly in the Lichtenstein Collection. The lot has an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. It sold for $149,000.

Lot 105, "A Grand Staircase," by Hubert Robert, oil on canvas, 15 3/4 by 33 1/4, 1763

Lot 105 is a fine oil on canvas of "A Grand Staircase" by Hubert Robert (1733-1808), It measures 15 3/4 by 33 1/4 inches and was painted in 1763. It was once in the collection of Baron Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza. It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 98, "London, a view of the Old Horse Guards and Banqueting Hall, Whitehall as seen from St. James' Park," by Canaletto, oil on canvas, 18 5/8 by 30 1/4 inches

Lot 98 is a scene of the Old Horse Guards and Banqueting Hall in Whitehall, London as seen from St. James' Park by Canaletto (1697-1768). An oil on canvas, it measures 18 5/8 by 30 1/4 inches. It was once owned by Paul Mellon and is proepterty of J.E. Safra. It has an estimate of $4,000,000 to $6,000,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 91, Pantheon, by Giovanni Paolo Panini, oil on canvas, 46 7/8 by 38 3/4 inches, 1732

Lot 91, the cover illustration of the catalogue, is a large oil on canvas of the interior of the Pantheon in Rome by Giovanni Paolo Panini (1691-1765). It measures 46 7/8 by 38 3/4 inches and was painted in 1732. It was once owned by Perry B. Cott, cief curator of the National Gallery of Art in Washington from 1956-1969 and was consigned by the Collection of J. E. Safra. It has an estimate of $3,000,000 to $5,000,000. It sold for $5,317,000.

Lot 98, "London, a view of the Old Horse Guards and Banqueting Hall, Whitehall as seen from St. James' Park," by Canaletto, oil on canvas, 18 5/8 by 30 1/4 inches

Another work from the Collection of J. E. Safra is Lot 35, an oil on oak panel titled "Frozen River at Sunset," by Aert van der Neer. It measures 18 1/4 by 27 5/8 inches. It has an estimate of $4,000,000 to $6,000,000. It sold for $4,757,000.

Lot 82, "Benjamin Franklin," by Joseph-Siffred Duplessis, oil on canvas, 28 3/4 by 23 1/2 inches

Lot 82 is a oil on canvas portrait of Benjamin Franklin by Joseph-Siffred Duplessis (1725-1802) that is similar to a 1779 version by the artist that is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This lot measures 28 3/4 by 23 1/2 inches and has an aestimate of $500,000 to $700,000. It sold for $1,445,000.

Lot 25, "Portrait of a Lady," by Johannes Cornelisz Verspronck, oil on canvas, 28 1/2 by 22 inches

Lot 25 is a superb "Portrait of a Lady" by Johannes Cornelisz Versponck that is an oil on canvas that measures 28 1/2 by 22 inches. The catalogue entry notes that "along with Hals, Verspronck dominated the portrait market in Haarlem for the vast majority of his career. The lot has a modest estimate of $60,000 to $80,000. It sold for $161,000.

Lot 37, "A roemer, an overturned pewter jug, olives and a half-peeled lemon on pewter plates," by Pieter Claesz, oil on panel, 16 1/8 by 24 1/4 inches

Lot 37 is a very fine still life by Pieter Claesz (1597-1660) that is an oil on panel that measures 16 1/8 by 24 1/4 inches. It is entitled "A roemer, an overturned pewter jug, olives, and a half-peeled lemon on pewter plates. It has an estimate of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. It failed to sell.

Renaissance Paintings auction at Christie's New York January 29, 2014 with the very spectacular Rothschild Prayerbook, a great Pontormo, a great Circle of Leonardo da Vinci, a great Lucas Cranach, a marvelous Laocoon by Alessandro Allori, a very nice small Gerard David and a wonderful Adriaen Eisenbradt

Important Old Master Paintings auction at Sotheby's New York January 30, 2014 with fine works by El Greco, Pieter Brueghel the Younger and Fragonard

Old Master Paintings Part I auction at Christie's New York January 29, 2014 with great works by Ter Borch and Sir William Beechey and Ferdinand Bol

The Courts of Europe Renaissance to Rococo at Sotheby's New York January 30, 2014 with a three-sided view portrait of a gyrfalcon, a great Benjamin West and a fine Willem van Tetrode