Latest News Articles by Jonathan Franks
Raphael in beaker form
02 March 2020Raphael’s painting 'Madonna della sedia' is one of the most familiar images of Western art and has been copied by artists since its inception in 1513.
Silver medal celebrating Jacobite defeat emerges at Munich auction
02 March 2020A silver medal on offer at Gorny & Mosch in Munich on March 9-10 commemorates the last pitched battle fought on the British mainland.
Buyers spoilt for choice as German auction houses hold their autumn Asian offerings
06 January 2020German auction houses traditionally hold their autumn sales of Asian art towards the end of the season and this year collectors and dealers were spoilt for choice.
A tale of Hoffmann
23 December 2019In 1906, three years after he had founded the Wiener Werkstätte with Koloman Moser, the multi-talented Austrian Josef Hoffmann designed a silver casket.
Greek life in a German studio
23 December 2019When Theodoros Patros Vryzakis (1814-78) was only a young boy, his father was executed by the Turks during the Greek War of Independence.
Photo portraits and postcard are pick of a Berlin auction
23 December 2019A set of famous and highly collectable photographic portraits by a well known photographer and a rare postcard painted by a German Expressionist were two highlights of an auction at Berlin saleroom Grisebach (30/25% buyer’s premium) on November 27.
Portrait by talented Rembrandt pupil gives boost to Old Masters sales in Germany
02 December 2019Pictured here is a selection of notable Old Master results from recent sales in Cologne and Munich where international bidders battled with German dealers and collectors.
Bernhard Hoetger's 'light and shadow' ceramic figure emerges at German sale
18 November 2019After training in Düsseldorf and Paris, where he had met Rodin and Maillol, both of whom had a major influence on his work, the German sculptor, painter and architect Bernhard Hoetger (1874-1949) joined the artists’ colony in Darmstadt in 1911.
A price not to be sneezed at
18 November 2019In the first decades of the 19th century, watchmakers in many parts of Europe made a living by producing highly ornate watches and gold boxes, many of them for Chinese buyers.
Snail netsuke from Nagoya crawls into Cologne auction
18 November 2019During the late 18th century, schools of netsuke carving were established throughout Japan.
Pupil follows master’s example
18 November 2019It is no coincidence that a glass bowl designed by Carl Witzmann (1883-1952), which was sold at Dr Fischer (28% buyer’s premium) in Heilbronn on October 19, reminded bidders of works by the great Austrian designer Josef Hoffmann. Witzmann was, after all, one of his pupils.
Rococo couple by Höchst in autumn glory
18 November 2019The first incarnation of the porcelain factory in Höchst near Frankfurt existed for exactly half a century. It was founded in 1746, making it the second-oldest producer of porcelain in Germany after Meissen.
Final slice of Soo Pieng
18 November 2019In recent years, Geble (22.61% buyer’s premium) in Radolfzell has sold several paintings by the Singaporean artist Cheong Soo Pieng (1917-83) from a German collection.
Dorotheum saleroom’s seven heaven
18 November 2019Dorotheum (28/25/22/18% buyer’s premium) in Vienna could boast two seven-figure prices in as many days, including the highest Austrian auction price of this year so far.
Vintage print of Julia Margaret Cameron's 'The Dream' offered at Berlin auction
18 November 2019Although her career as a photographer lasted only some 16 years, Julia Margaret Cameron (1815-79) is acknowledged as a pioneer of the medium, creating a remarkable oeuvre of portraits and other photographic compositions.
Einstein surprise at Stuttgart auction
18 November 2019One of the biggest surprises at Nagel’s (33% buyer’s premium) sale in Stuttgart on October 16-17 came right at the end of the auction.
Schiele reveals his artistic manifesto
18 November 2019“There is no such thing as modern art, there is only art and it is perpetual.” The author of these lines was, perhaps surprisingly, the highly modern Austrian painter Egon Schiele and are part of an artistic manifesto written on July 17, 1911.
Family values at Munich saleroom
18 November 2019The private collection of the late auctioneer Rudolf Neumeister was on offer at the saleroom bearing his name – which is now run by his daughter.
Stuck sculpture shows athletic inspiration
28 October 2019The German artist Franz von Stuck is generally associated with portraits of sultry, mystical fin-de-siècle women, laden with symbolism.
Panels portray palaces and architectural scenes
28 October 2019One of the highlights at Lempertz in Cologne on November 15 is a set of nine late-18th century scagliola panels.