Francesco Guardi (1712-1793) – Piazza San Marco with the Basilica and the Campanile
A magnificent view of the Piazza San Marco, with the basilica and the campanile by Francesco Guardi sold for 6.7 million at Christie’s in Paris today. This was the highest price achieved for an Old Master painting sold at auction in France over the past two decades. The Guardi was the top lot in the sale in the Boniface de Castellane and Anna Gould “A Way of Life” sale which achieved 14.2 million. Christie’s said that this exceptional result reflected the relevant choices Boni had made when furbishing his legendary Palais Rose with the most exquisite works of art. There were bidders from 19 countries across five continents.
The Palais Rose’s famous Boulle furniture achieved strong prices, as illustrated by the Louis XVI pair of meubles-à-hauteur-d’appui by Etienne Levasseur and Adam Weisweiler which sold for 818,500 and the Louis XIV console attributed to André-Charles Boulle sold for 506,500. Important decorative art from the period also performed very well, as shown by the Sèvres porcelain “vases” which realised 206,500 against a presale estimate of 80,000-120,000. Art Déco works by Cartier where among the highlights of the sale. The ‘Jardin Japonais’ desk set made 1.1 million, a new record for an object by Cartier sold at auction.
(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for January 17, 2017)