Sun over the Sea by Vilhelm Hammershøi.
One of the only known marine paintings by Danish artist Vilhelm Hammershøi comes up at Sotheby’s sale of 19th Century European Paintings in London on May 22. Sun Over the Sea is estiamted at £100,000-150,000. The auction will feature a second painting by Hammershøi with a maritime subject the Old Warehouse in Christianshavn (£80,000-100,000). Both pictures are from Danish private collections and come to market for the first time.
Claude Piening of Sotheby’s said: “Hammershøi’s timeless and quietly understated images continue to cast their spell on today’s collectors. For our upcoming sale in May, we are fortunate to be offering two exterior views painted in Copenhagen. Sun over the Sea is an especially exciting rediscovery, arguably the only painting by Hammershøi to depict not only the open ocean, but the glowing orb of the sun, the source of light in so many of his more familiar interior scenes.”