Leading the way was Lot - 20 - The Crowning With Thorns - Valentin de Boulogne - sold for USD 5,178,000.
Valentine de Boulogne was a French artist b. 1591 d. 1632. who traveled to Rome to study painting as did all young French artists of his day. The early 17th century was dominated by the school of Mannerism. Whilst at Rome Valentine came under the influence of the naturalism of Caravaggio and he became part of a group of emigre artists known as the French Caravaggisti. whilst in Rome among French and Dutch an Flemish young painters, Valentine earned his nickname nickname "Innamorato" but is said to have lived in solitude in the parish of Santa Maria del Popolo. Valentine was attracted to Biblical subjects at this time. Upon his return to France valentine and other young artists began the introduction of the Baroque style. However the artists life was cut short. it is estimated that the work - Crowning of Thorns was completed somewhere near the date 1620 whilst at Rome. Oil on canvas, 128 x 95 cm and formerly owned privately and loaned for display at the Alte Pinakothek, Munich. Acquired at sale by A. Alfred Taubman for his collection.
The second attraction of the bidding was Lot 8 - Portrait of Valerio Belli - Raphael - sold for USD 3,250,000.
Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino b.1483 d.1520 was an Italian painter also known as Raphael. During the period of the the High Renaissance his serene works were admired for such consummate clarity of form. Spending most of his time in the north of Italy and in particular Florence, Raphael developed his perfection of form, along with his contemporaries Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, and formed the three great masters of this period in the history of European art. His famous works include - The Madonna of the Pinks and the Deposition of Christ among others. The portrait of Valerio Bello was commissioned in 1517. It is an oil on roundel panel of the dimensions overall diameter: 4 15/16 in.; 12.5 cm and painted surface diameter: 4 in.; 10.1 cm. Formerly owned privately. Acquired at sale by A. Alfred Taubman for his collection.
The third attraction of the bidding was Lot 62 - The Blue Page - Thomas Gainsborough - which also sold for USD 3,250,000.
Thomas Gainsborough was an English portrait and landscape painter b. 1727 d. 1788. He was a contemporary of the other famous English portrait painter Sir Joshua Reynolds and founding member of the Royal Academy. The dimensions of this work are approximately 3 1/2 inches across the bottom 65 by 44 1/2 in.; 165.5 by 113 cm. This oil on canvas c. 1765 is thought to be the forerunner to the artist's most famous work - The Blue Boy c. 1770. Formerly owned privately. Acquired at sale by A. Alfred Taubman for his collection.
The Fourth attraction on the sale was Lot 50 - Venice, a View of the Grand Canal Looking East from the Campio Di San Vio, to the Left the Palazzo Correr - Bernardo Bellotto- sold for USD 3,010,000.
The Fourth attraction on the sale was Lot 50 - Venice, a View of the Grand Canal Looking East from the Campio Di San Vio, to the Left the Palazzo Correr - Bernardo Bellotto- sold for USD 3,010,000.
Bernardo Bellotto, is also known as 'Canaletto' named after his famous namesake uncle and whose own fame as an Italian painter lay in his exquisite city of Venice landscapes. The younger Canaletto, or Bellotto, b.1721 d.1780, was known for his accentuated detail of architecture and Rococco style. At the height of his career he spent 16 years under commission of King August III of Poland and his successor King Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski at Warsaw. This painting was made before his departure to Dresden somewhere between 1740 and 1746. Oil on canvas with dimensions 24 by 38 3/8 in, 61 by 97.5 cm. Previous owner private collection and acquired through sale by A. Alfred Taubman.
The fifth most expensive painting of the collection was Lot 30 - Christ Disputing With The Doctors - Matthias Stomer - Sold for USD 2,650,000.
Matthias Stomer, or Stom was a Dutch painter b. 1600 d. 1650 and known for his Baroque style Biblical themes. The painter was part of the Dutch Golden Age painter and Stom was known to be part of a group that collectively became known as the masters of Utrecht Caravaggism, with themes in the manner of the great Italian painter Caravaggio. Stom spent a considerable time in Italy whereby he came under the influence of the style of Caravggio. This work is thought to have been completed in 1630. Oil on canvas 53 1/2 by 71 1/4 in, 136 by 181 cm. Previous owner private collection and acquired through sale by A. Alfred Taubman.
Discussions in fine art by Pieter Bergli
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