Christie’s New York will hold its Old Master Paintings and Drawings auctions on Jan. 25 and 26, followed by a new specialized sale: The Art of France. Dedicated to 18th century French paintings, it includes a selection of works by Jean-Honoré Fragonard.
The sales combined, comprising 216 works, are expected to achieve in excess of $60 million.
Among the offerings are paintings that are new to the market, surfacing out of long-held private collections. This presents a great opportunity not only for collectors, but also for art lovers in New York to catch a glimpse of these masterpieces before they are likely sold back into private collections.
The Old Master sales are led by “The Virgin Nursing the Christ Child,” a graceful painting by Hans Memling, one of two works by the 15th century artist that remain privately owned; and “The Arrival of Henri III at the Villa Contarini” (circa 1744–45), an oil sketch by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.
Also giving strength to the sale are works by Peter Paul Rubens, Frans Hals, Thomas de Keyser, Gerrit Dou, and Giuseppe Arcimboldo, which, according to Christie’s, are “coming to light again after generations, or having been recently authoritatively re-attributed.”
“Demand for top-quality Old Master works continues to rise,” said Nicholas Hall, joint international head of Old Master and Early British paintings in a release.
“Christie’s is proud to meet that demand with this unusually strong selection of paintings and drawings, almost all of which are fresh to the market.”
Leading the French sale is a beautiful Fragonard work (1732–1806, Paris): “The Good Mother,” estimated at $5 million to $7 million.
“This oval-shaped painting pairs its harmonious subject with a composition that envelops the happy family in the natural yet domesticated surroundings of a verdant park with banks of hollyhocks and summer flowers, illuminating Mediterranean light and an arching bower,” Christie’s described in a press release.
Also from Fragonard is a delightful pair of paintings: “Le Jour (Day) and La Nuit (Night),” estimated at $2 million to $3 million.
“These blissful paintings portray a flight of putti playing in the sky by day and bedding down in the clouds at night. Each panel measures almost five feet. The works are emerging from a private collection in which they have been held for more than half a century,” according to Christie’s press release.
“It’s been seven years since we last featured French paintings, and now I find people are interested in a French resurgence. This painting and subject by Hans Memling has a transcending appeal in modern times,” said Georgina Wilsenach, head of Old Master paintings at Christie’s.
Rounding out the auction selections and price ranges, will be works of art from two distinguished private collections, the Collection of David E. Rust and Collection of Robert H. Smith.
The late Smith was a real estate mogul and philanthropist, whose renown comes mostly from the building of Crystal City in Virginia.
Smith served at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, for 10 years and assembled a notable collection of Renaissance and baroque bronzes and paintings.
The late Rust was an avid collector and curator at the National Gallery of Art. He'd gathered a considerable and broad range of works, from “20th-century British artists, bronzes by Rodin, 19th century French works, Italian and Dutch baroque paintings and a trove of Old Master drawings,” according to Christie’s release. He donated many of these works to the National Gallery.
Fifteen paintings and drawings from his collection are offered in the upcoming Old Master sales.
One of the leading works, “The Arrival of Henri III at the Villa Contarini,” by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Venice 1696–1770), comes from the Smith collection and is estimated at $4 million to $6 million.
“This painting depicts the lavish welcome accorded Henri de Valois, soon to be crowned as Henri III of France, when he came to Venice in 1574,” according to Christie’s in a release.
Sales and pre-sale exhibitions to be held at Christie’s New York, 20 Rockefeller Plaza, located at 49th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues.
Public Exhibition: Jan 21–25
Old Master Paintings Part I: Jan. 25, 10 a.m.
Art of France: Jan. 25, 2 p.m.
Old Master Drawings: Jan. 26, 10 a.m.
Old Master Paintings Part II: Jan 26, 2 p.m.
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