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    • Posts Tagged ‘Brian Sewell’

    UNDISCOVERED RARITIES IN COLLECTION OF BRIAN SEWELL

    Sunday, September 4th, 2016
    Undiscovered rarities have been found in the collection of Brian Sewell which comes up at Christie’s in London on September 27. One of Britain’s best loved art critics he had a flair for spotting quality, even where the identify of the artist had been long lost. A number of new attributions have been made since the catalogue to the auction Brian Sewell: Critic and Collector was published.
    An oil on paper study on blue paper of a soldier carrying a ladder towards a besieged town, thought to have been by a follower of Michelangelo, was spotted by a museum curator in the US as by the Florentine artist Agostino Ciampelli (1565-1630). The technique with black chalk heightened by white on blue paper is characteristic of Ciampelli.  The drawing, made in connection with a Medici marriage in 1589, was acquired by Brian Sewell in the early 1960’s. It is now estimated at £20,000-30,000.
    A profile study has been found to be typical of the technique of Jusepe de Ribera (1591-1652) when using red chalk (£6,000-8,000). A two-sided study in oil on paper by Domenico Tintoretto (1560-1635) has just been associated with a series of pictures in the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari in Venice. A meticulously drawn view from 1794 was identified as the Schmadribach Waterfall near Lauterbrunnen, a favourite subject of German Romantic Joseph Anton Koch (1768-1839) (£20,000-30,000).
    Dido Reclining, Asleep by Daniele da Volterra (1509-66) was identified through extensive research at Christie’s and is estimated at £100,000-150,000.  Estimates in the auction range from £600 to £600,000.  UPDATE:  The auction achieved £3,741,313

    (See post on antiquesandartireland.com for June 3, 2016)

    This drawing of a soldier carrying a ladder turns out to be a work by Agostine Ciampelli (1565-1630). It is estimated at £20,000-30,000. © Christie’s Images Limited 2016

    This drawing of a soldier carrying a ladder turns out to be a work by Agostine Ciampelli (1565-1630). It is estimated at £20,000-30,000. © Christie’s Images Limited 2016 UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £95,000

    A Man's head in Profile has been attributed to Jusepe de Ribera, lo Spagnoletto (1591-1652)

    A Man’s head in Profile has been attributed to Jusepe de Ribera, lo Spagnoletto (1591-1652)  UPDATE: THIS MADE £22,000 AT HAMMER

    Daniele da Volterra (1509-1566) Dido reclining, asleep (£50,000-80,000) © Christie’s Images Limited 2016

    Daniele da Volterra (1509-1566) Dido reclining, asleep © Christie’s Images Limited 2016  UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR £660,000

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    A JAMES BARRY FROM BRIAN SEWELL’S COLLECTION AT CHRISTIE’S

    Friday, June 3rd, 2016
    James Barry (1741-1806) - Male Nude (£20,000-30,000) Courtesy Christie's Images Ltd., 2016

    James Barry (1741-1806) – Male Nude (£20,000-30,000) Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2016  UPDATE: THIS MADE £70,000 AT HAMMER A RECORD FOR A DRAWING BY THE ARTIST

    A work by the Irish artist James Barry has turned up in the collection of Brian Sewell the renowned and controversial art critic, award-winning journalist and author.  Christie’s sale devoted to Brian Sewell: Critic & Collector will take place in London on September 27. Brian Sewell (1931-2015) worked at Christie’s as an auction house picture expert for almost nine years, between 1958 and 1967, having graduated in Art History at the Courtauld Institute. Acquired over many decades, approximately 200 lots will be offered for sale from the collection, including important Old Master Paintings and Drawings and 19th and 20th century British Art.  The works carry estimates ranging from under £1,000 to £600,000.

    Born in Cork James Barry (1741-1806) studied painting under  John Butts and early in his career was patronised by Edmund Burke.  Noted as one of the earliest Romantic painters working in Britain he studied in Paris and Rome and influenced artists like William Blake.   He is best remembered for his six part series of paintings on The Progress of Human Culture in the Great Room of the Royal Society of Arts, London.

    Orlando Rock, Christie’s UK Chairman: “Brian Sewell was, undoubtedly, one of Christie’s most colourful and learned former colleagues. What always motivated him was his love of great art and its power to move and inspire, combined with his characteristic and acerbic wit.”

    Noël Annesley, Honorary Chairman, Christie’s UK: “Brian was a young man of 27 when he joined Christie’s. As his assistant, I got to admire him and to like him enormously. He evolved from a rather shy, cerebral art historian turned auction house expert into one of the most famous and widely read British art critics of our time. Brian was a man whose opinions were sought not just on art but on a wide variety of topics, reflecting the exceptional range of his interests. He could be relied upon to provide witty and often devastating judgements. A wonderful instructor, serious but humorous too, he set a standard for us all.”

    Brian Sewell’s much loved work by Matthias Stomer (circa 1600 – after 1652?) Blowing Hot, Blowing Cold (£400,000-600,000) CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2016

    Brian Sewell’s much loved work by Matthias Stomer (circa 1600 – after 1652?)
    Blowing Hot, Blowing Cold
    (£400,000-600,000) CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2016  UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    A double-sided painting by Duncan Grant (1885-1978) Still Life, Charleston (recto) and Reclining male Nude (verso) £20,000- 30,000

    A double-sided painting by Duncan Grant (1885-1978)
    Still Life, Charleston (recto) and Reclining male Nude (verso)
    £20,000- 30,000 Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2016  UPDATE: THIS MADE £56,250

    Daniele da Volterra (1509-1566) Dido reclining, asleep (£50,000-80,000)

    Daniele da Volterra (1509-1566)
    Dido reclining, asleep
    (£50,000-80,000)  Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2916 UPDATE: THIS MADE £660,000

    Brian Sewell in Christie’s warehouse, circa 1962

    Brian Sewell in Christie’s warehouse, circa 1962

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