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Francesco Guardi (1712-1793)
Venice, the Bacino di San Marco with the Piazzetta and the Doge’s Palace  Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014  UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR £9,882,500

A masterpiece by Francesco Guardi – Venice, the Bacino di San Marco with the Piazzetta and the Doge’s Palace – will be on the market at Christie’s in London in July for the first time in over a century.  From the Baron Henri de Rothschild collection it is estimated at £8-10 million. Executed at the height of his maturity and depicting one of the most celebrated prospects of Venice the caliber of this work is matched by exceptional provenance. Originally in the collection of The Earls of Shaftesbury; it was acquired by Baron James-Edouard de Rothschild (1844-1881) and in turn owned by his daughter Jeanne-Sophie-Henriette, Baronne Léonino (1875-1929) and  her brother Baron Henri-James-Charles-Nathan de Rothschild (1872-1947), from whom it was inherited by the present owners.

Not seen in public since 1954 (Brussels, Palais des Beaux-Arts, La Peinture Vénitienne), this work will go on a global tour starting with a public view at Christie’s in Paris on March 3 and 4; Moscow on April 12 and 13; New York from  May 2 to 6; Hong Kong from May 22-26  and London from July 5-8.  It is set to become one of the most valuable works by the artist sold at auction.

Georgina Wilsenach, Head of Old Master & British Paintings at Christie’s London: “We are honoured to present this exquisite view by Francesco Guardi at a moment when appreciation of his art is at an all-time high. Landmark exhibitions of his work in 2012-2013 marked the third centenary of the artist?s birth, including the highly acclaimed exhibitions at the Musée Jacquemart-André in Paris and the Museo Correr in Venice.

Sanyu – Potted Chrysanthemums. Oil on masonite.

A seminal 1950’s masterpiece by the modern Chinese master Sanyu (1901-1966) comues up at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong on April 5.  Considered a museum quality masterpiece Potted Chyrsanthemums belongs to the artists celebrated Potted Flower series.  It was picked by Sanyu for the Jansonne Triennial Art Exhibition in France in 1958. His paintings are highly prized for their rarity and this one is on the market for the first time since its exhibition appearance over half a century ago.  It is expected to make more than $1.5 million US. The work is more than twice the size of its sister painting sold at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in October 2012 for US$3.96 million.

One of the first generation of Chinese artists to live in France Sanyu travelled to Paris in 1921 and remained there for the rest of his life.   Sylvie Chen, Head of 20th Century Chinese Art Department, said: “Back in 1992 when collectors started noticing the beauty and prominence of modern Chinese oil paintings, I organised the first solo exhibition for Sanyu at Dimensions Art Gallery in Taipei, which came with the production of an exhibition catalogue – the first ever publication on Sanyu’s works. The exhibition showcased only ten works by Sanyu but was enough to give a glimpse of the essence of Sanyu’s oeuvre for his entire artistic life, so much so that many collectors started acquiring the artist’s works. Over the course of 20 years, Sanyu is now recognised as an esteemed artist in the history of Chinese art, while his works are highly sought-after by connoisseurs.”

The most important collection of Old Master Drawings at auction in a generation comes up at Christie’s in London, Paris and Amsterdam in 2014-15. The I.Q. van Regteren Altena Collection features works by Rubens, Rembrandt, Goltzius and de Gheyn.  Professor van Regteren Altena (1899-1980) was a distinguished art historian who was head of the Prints and Drawings department at the Rijksmuseum.  There are more than 800 lots in his collection, which presents an incomparable panorama of mostly Dutch and Flemish draughtsmanship from 1550 to 1850.  It is expected to realise more than £10 million.

The Rijksmuseum announced that the van Regteren Altena heirs have allowed them to make a selection from the collection for acquisition.  The museum chose drawings with a special association with I.Q.van Regteren Altena: a landscape by J. de Gheyn and a group of 46 spectacular watercolours by Joseph Augustus Knip. A further 69 drawings by 19th century Dutch contemporaries of Knip in Italy were also donated by the heirs.  Christie’s will present Part I of the colleciton, including more than 70 Dutch and Flemish drawings from the Renaissance to the Golden Age in London on July 10. Three further auctions will follow the King Street sale. Parts II & IV, dedicated to the Dutch and  Flemish schools, will take place in Amsterdam in December 2014 and May  2015. Part III, including French and Italian drawings, will be sold in Paris in March 2015. Here are some examples to be sold in London in July.

Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (Leiden 1606-1669 Amsterdam)
A young man leaning on a stick (£250,000-350,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014.  UPDATE: THIS MADE £206,500

Hendrick Goltzius (Mühlbracht 1558-1617 Haarlem)
Study of a hand (£300,000-500,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £2,658,500

Sir Peter Paul Rubens (Siegen 1577-1640 Antwerp)
Samson and Delilah (recto); Figure studies, probably of soldiers (verso) (£1.5-2.5 million). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2014. UPDATE: THIS MADE £3,218,500

THERE will be particular local interest in a watercolour by Cicely O’Brien entitled Caravans, Old Limerick at Dolan’s art and antiques sale at Castletroy Park Hotel on March 2.  Redolent of bygone times it depicts old style horse drawn tinker caravans on wasteland adjacent to Limerick city with tall Georgian buildings in the background. The sale of 245 lots features mostly art with some antique furniture, silver and collectible items.  There is work by Kenneth Webb, Robert Egginton, Charles Harper, Jack Donovan, Manus Walsh, George Gillespie, Arthur Maderson, Mat Grogan, Norman Teeling and many other artists.  The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection:

Cicely O’Brien – Caravans, Old Limerick (300-400).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 325

Kenneth Webb – Blue Stones, Connemara (2,950-3,250).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,200

An 18th century oak stool (200-300).  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 250

David ffrench le Roy – Cheese and wine (700-900)  UPDATE: THIS MADE 525

Norman Teeling – Summer light in the drawing room (650-850)  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 600

Paul Christopher Flynn – Bowl – (600-800).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 675

Elizabeth Brophy – In the Meadow (1,000-1,200).  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD