Usually said that this style from fashion

In General, with a low, dollar appears cheaper in the United States to a European. This table has been the opposite. It was enough to cross the Atlantic so that its value goes from the simple to the Quad! January 28, Sotheby's had auction an Italian painting of the 17th century in a Virgin and child in the company of St. John the Baptist. It was in 200 tables representing a total recipe of 61 million dollars (73 of the sold lots). The work was painted by Bernardo Strozzi (1581-1644), a specialist mannerism of religious paintings. Estimated at $ 200,000, it has been awarded 338.500 dollars (242.500 euros). It was already a good case, but much more when we know that it had been bought at the Drouot auction, without any identification of the author, for approximately 60,000 euros. Sale catalog failed to describe the origin of Drouot. He speaks as of a rediscovery. Evidence that the France remains a "granary" for the old masters. You can however deplore the promotional work has not been achieved locally.

The Strozzi was not part, far away, the Group of the most beautiful paintings of this season. However, in the credits of "best of", there was a rare table, "Jupiter and Antiope", a spectacular erotic composition of a certain Hendrick Goltzius (1558-1617), a painter and Dutch engraver, inspired by Rubens at the end of his career. Until 2009, the table was exposed to the Franz Hals Museum in Haarlem. He was acquired in 1941 by the nazi Hermann Goering and returned a few months to the heirs of the rightful owner. It is the second "history" of the season.

Tables robbed by Goering

Goering was owner of 2 other paintings of this sale, returned with investigations designed to reconvey the property robbed during the second world war to the Jews. Former art buff, he had not only carried out thoroughly Golden painting, we know today, by a follower of Giotto to 1320, estimated 150,000 dollars and awarded 362.000 dollars, but also a view of city a river under a big sky, by Salomon van Ruysdael in 1650, sold 3.3 million (for an estimate of 800,000 dollars). Oil on Panel was lately for a French collection. An excellent price, especially in times of crisis.

But back to the Goltzius... This table features was awarded for 1.2 million dollars less than its estimate low, i.e. 6.8 million. A covered words, the Director of the Department old paintings to Sotheby's, George Wachter, felt that the seller had not allowed them to une low estimate which would leave potential customers the opportunity to make, themselves. "We have adjusted our strategy." Now, we organize auction to the tighter. We are very selective last year, we introduced 350 tables; This 200 for time throughout the season - and we say, more often possible, low estimates. This is what we have done for the paintings which were entrusted to us by the Los Angeles County museum (1). Sixteen of the 17 lots were sold for $ 3.8 million while we had estimated 1.1 million.

A copy sold very expensive

Nevertheless, and this is still a story, the greatest names in art do not always sell. January 28, Sotheby's had to offer nothing less than a Rembrandt, a portrait of a woman quite identifiable as that of the master of chiaroscuro, to sell for an estimate of $ 8 million. One might have thought that this painting would then find a purchaser among many fans of "trophies", these works of art that demonstrate a certain social status. So in December, another Rembrandt had been acquired for the record price of 22 million by one of the Kings of the casinos in Las Vegas, the media collector Steve Wynn. But insiders knew that not only the Web had already been transferred at auction in January 2007 for 8 million but, in addition, it had been squarely resized in the past. Feeling the adverse wind blowing on this lot, and with a view to provide bad statistics of sales, at the last moment, certainly Sotheby's has simply removed the "Portrait of a young woman" of Rembrandt.

Finally, if still show that the art market, despite all the arguments of the specialists, remains an area to the opaque behavior, it would give the example of a copy of the 18th century, according to Sotheby's, and the 19th century, according to some experts, a famous painting of Leonardo da Vinci, "La Belle Ferronière". The original of the supposed portrait of mistress of the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza, is one of the most famous paintings of the Louvre. This version, estimated 300,000 dollars, reached $ 1.5 million. Very expensive for a late copy. Curiously, this would be a real fan of old masters, an American, which would have made the acquisition.

The previous day, Christie's proposed a sale much more low, who received $ 39 million with 64 of the 210 sold lots. Features, a French table purchased by a museum which, according to the legend, would be the richest of the world: the Getty in Los Angeles. He purchased, for 4.5 million dollars, a very busy on the boulevard of the Temple in Paris Street scene painted in 1810 by Louis - Léopold Boilly. Despite its date, it is not a table with modernity but rather a verve of the classic 18th century. Usually said that this style from fashion. The art market is beyond all preconceived ideas, where the paintings are of excellent quality.