Category: Auctions
Antonello da Messina acquired by Italian State?
February 9 2026
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Italian art press are drawing attention to a Facebook post from the Fondazione Federico Zeri which claims that the Italian state have acquired Antonello da Messina's Ecce Homo. The picture was withdrawn from last week's sale at Sotheby's New York. Several other social media posts from Italian cultural figures, some of which have been subsequently deleted, also seem to support this notion. An official announcement is still lacking. More news as and when it appears.
Update - Sotheby's have released an update that the painting was indeed acquired by the Italian state for $14.9m (which presumably includes commission).
Sotheby's New York Results
February 5 2026
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Sotheby's New York Master Paintings & Works of Art Part I sale realised $27,896,650 (all prices include commission) with 85.42% of lots sold / 80.4% including withdrawn lots.*
The lots that soared past their estimates included Fragonard's head study (pictured) which realised $2,734,000 over its $600k - $800k estimate, a curious 'French or Flemish School' portrait which made an impressive $2,307,000 over its $200k - $300k estimate, a Renaissance portrait by Biagio d'Antonio which also made $2,307,000 over its $800k - $1.2m estimate, a Giovanni Bellini and Workshop Woman at her Toilette which went for $2,002,000 over its $600k - $800k estimate, and a pair of Paters which realised $1,079,500 over their $400k - $600k estimate.
The curious news of the sale was the withdrawal of Antonello da Messina's Ecce Homo, which was the top lot of the sale carrying an estimate of $10m - $15m. As the lot was both 'guaranteed' and carrying an irrevocable bid, we can only speculate as to why this may have been (or await a formal announcement for the reason in due course).
* - It appears 3 lots were withdrawn.
Michelangelo's Foot realises $23.1m Hammer
February 5 2026
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The aforementioned study of a foot by Michelangelo at Christie's New York soared past its $2m - $3m estimate this afternoon to realise a total of $23.1m (hammer), which is $27.2m including commission. An impressive work of art, and a now staggering price to go along with it, considering its size.
Christie's New York Results
February 4 2026
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Christie's New York Old Masters sale achieved $54,130,050 (all prices inc. commission) this afternoon with 82.23% of lots sold.*
The top lot, the English period Canaletto, achieved $30,535,000, which is (with commission) just about the $30m 'estimate on request' price that was expected. Many pictures soared past their estimates, the majority of them being portraits. This included Artemisia Gentileschi's Self Portrait which made $5,687,000 over its $2.5m - $3.5m estimate, a portrait by Adriaen Isenbrandt which achieved $863,600 over its $400k - $600k estimate, a rather damaged Willem Key portrait from the Hispanic Society which realised $355,600 over its $60k - $80k estimate, a portrait given to the Circle of Sofonisba Anguissola which made $355,600 over its $60k - $80k estimate, and a rare portrait by Jacometto Veneziano which went for $1,460,500 over its $500k - $700k estimate.
* - I couldn't spot any withdrawn lots, but, I'm sure someone will write in if I'm wrong on this point!
Bonhams Mid-Season Sale
January 28 2026
Picture: Bonhams
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Bonhams have uploaded their online mid-season Old Master Paintings sale online. Bidding will close on 11th February 2026.
Rediscovered Hans Baldung Grien Drawing at Auction
January 19 2026
Picture: Drouot
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from France that Beaussant Lefèvre & Associés, in collaboration with the Bayser firm, will be offering a newly rediscovered drawing by Hans Baldung Grien on 23rd March 2026. The work will be offered carrying an estimate of €1.5m - €3m.
Stephen Fry and Canaletto
January 19 2026
Video: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Christie's New York have filmed actor Stephen Fry talking with Andrew Fletcher, Global Head Old Masters, about Canaletto's Venice, the Bucintoro at the Molo on Ascension Day. The painting is coming up for sale on 4th February 2026 with an estimate of around $30m.
Sotheby's New York Part II Sale
January 13 2026
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Sotheby's New York have just published their upcoming Master Paintings & Sculpture from Four Millennia Part II sale online. The auction will take place on 6th February 2026.
As usual with such sales, I won't point out what may or may not be of interest.
Veil-Picard Collection at Christie's Paris in March
January 7 2026
Picture: Christie's via artnet.com
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Christie's Paris have unveiled that they will be offering works from the collection of the late Arthur Georges Veil-Picard (1854–1944) on 25th March 2026.
According to artnet's article linked above:
Christie’s is billing the sale as offering a glimpse into one of “the most mysterious and coveted” private collections in art history, largely known only through black-and-white reproductions. It features 30 works by the likes of Hubert Robert (1733–1808), Gabriel de Saint-Aubin (1724–1780), Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun (1755–1842), and Marie-Suzanne Roslin (1734–1772). It could bring in as much as €5 million to €8 million ($5.85 million–9.35 million) in total.
Luca Giordano Soars
January 6 2026
Picture: Abalarte Subastas
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
I'm slow to news (via Drouot) that the following Battle of the Amazons by Luca Giordano soared to past its starting estimate of €180,000 to achieve €854,000 (inc. commission) at Abalarte Subastas in Spain at the end of December. This is apparently the second highest price at auction for the artist.
Sotheby's New York Sale
January 6 2026
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Sotheby's New York have uploaded their Master Paintings & Works of Art Part I online. The auction will take place on 5th February 2026.
Amongst the highlights of the sale are Antonello da Messina's Ecce Homo estimated at $10m - $15m, Jan Lievens' Allegory of the Five Senses at $2m - $3m, Francisco de Zurbarán's Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine of Alexandria carrying an estimate of $800k - $1.2m, Biagio d'Antonio's Portrait of a Young Man Wearing a Red Berretto estimated at $800k - $1.2m, and a Head of a Bearded Man by Fragonard estimated at $600k - $800k.
Update - Bendor adds: come along Sotheby's; your high-res images seem to be getting worse and worse. How can you expect to entice people to drop six, seven figure sums based on a small jpeg? Christie's now has 'superzoom'.
Rediscovered José I Portrait acquired by University of Coimbra
December 30 2025
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
A reader has kindly been in touch with news from November regarding the following portrait of the young José I (King of Portugal from 1750 to 1777) by Domenico Duprà which was acquired by University of Coimbra in 2023. The picture, which was sold in the Collection Hubert Guerrand-Hermès sale at Sotheby's Paris in 2023 as a 'Portrait of a Young Man', was spotted by Diogo Lemos, a PhD student in Art History at the University. The painting realised €8,890 (inc. commission) over its €2k - €3k estimate. Click on the link above to read more.
Museo de San Isidro acquires 17th century Isidore the Labourer painting
December 29 2025
Picture: Mutualart
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from Spain (via @Boro_RR on 'X') that the Museo de San Isidro in Madrid have acquired an anonymous 17th century painting of Isidore the Labourer Feeding Doves. It was acquired earlier at auction where it was catalogued as 'Madrid School, 17th century'.
Christie's New York Part II Sale
December 24 2025
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Christie's New York Old Master Paintings and Sculpture Part II sale has been uploaded online. The auction will take place on 4th February 2026.
As usual with such sales, I won't point out what may or may not be interest.
Nixon & Weindling Sales at Sotheby's New York
December 24 2025
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Sotheby's New York have uploaded their two upcoming single owner sales online. This includes Master Drawings from the Collection of Diane A. Nixon and Light and Life: The Lester L. Weindling Collection.
Highlights from the Weindling Collection include a $2m - $3m still life by Jan Jansz. den Uyl the Elder, a $2m - $3m shipping scene by Jan van de Cappelle, a $1.8m - $2.5m river scene by Salomon van Ruysdael, and a $1.8m - $2.5m frozen river scene at sunset by Aert van der Neer (pictured).
The Nixon sale highlights include works on paper by Watteau, Fra Bartolomeo, Annibale Carracci and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.
A handful of highlights have been uploaded to the Master Paintings & Works of Art Part I sale thus far.
Christie's New York Sale
December 23 2025
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Christie's New York have uploaded their upcoming Old Masters sale online. The auction will take place on 4th February 2026.
The highlights include the aforementioned $30m Canaletto, a Botticelli & Studio Madonna and Child with St John the Baptist at $4m - $6m, a Self Portrait by Artemisia Gentileschi at $2.5m - $3.5m, Chardin's The Diligent Mother at $1m - $2m, and an impressive Magdalene by Pieter Coeke van Aelst I at $500k - $800k.
Painted Mineral Cabinet Soars
December 22 2025
Picture: drouot
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The following painted Mineral Cabinet, showing specimens belonging to the King, soared at auction in France last week. Painted by Alexandre-Isidore Leroy, the work flew past its estimate of €20,000 - €30,000 to achieve €530,000 (hammer) at Beaussant Lefèvre & Associés.
Rhodes, Hart and Aitken sales at Christie's New York
December 20 2025
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
For those of us who are impatiently hanging around the landing pages of the auction houses, waiting for the upcoming New York sales to be uploaded online, Christie's New York have already published quite a few interesting single owner sales for the 2026 Winter season.
The sales of Irene Roosevelt Aitken, which split the pictures between English and French sales, feature some rather fine examples from the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries (including this shimmering Lawrence pictured above).
Equally, the two sales dedicated to A Life of Discerning Passions: The Collection of H. Rodes Sr. and Patricia Hart feature some rather choice works on paper, including those by Turner, Rubens and Claude, alongside some highlights from the decorative arts.
Adélaïde Labille-Guiard pre-empted by Palace of Versailles
December 19 2025
Video: tajan_auction via Instagram
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News from France that the aforementioned Self Portrait by Adélaïde Labille-Guiard has been pre-empted by the Palace of Versailles. The work realised €650,000 over its €300k - €500k estimate at Tajan the other day.
Turner's Auction Acquisitions
December 17 2025
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Christie's have published an interesting article online by Melissa Chaplin, head of their archives in London, on the acquisitions JMW Turner made at auction. Click on the link to read the full article.
