Old Masters

Traditionally this sector is defined as works by master painters working in Europe from before 1800. It includes Renaissance artists and Dutch Golden Age painters for example. Today Old Master auctions in London and New York will include works by British artists as well as some 19th century works.


Rubens’ Portrait of a Man as the God Mars

Rubens painting to be offered in Modern art evening sale

23 February 2023

Sir Peter Paul Rubens’ 'Portrait of a Man as the God Mars', once the most expensive work by the artist ever sold at auction, is to be offered at a Sotheby's Modern art sale.

Gabriel Metsu picture

Plea to help recover paintings stolen in Belgravia

21 February 2023

The Met police and Sloane Street Auctions are appealing for help to recover three pictures taken from a viewing in Belgravia.

Bindo Altoviti

Marble marvel: 16th century portrait on stone acquired by the Met

20 February 2023

A remarkable 16th century oil painting on marble that previously sold at Sotheby’s has been acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

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Louvre acquisitions announced for Abu Dhabi and Paris

06 February 2023

Main and Middle East branch of the French museum revealed as the buyers of works offered in French auctions

Rubens painting

Rubens heads New York’s Old Master series

30 January 2023

A painting by Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) from the collection of the divorcing couple Mark Fisch and Rachel Davidson led the latest series of Old Master sales in New York.

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Blend of science and witchcraft still casts a spell

16 January 2023

One of the most interesting pictures sold at the latest series of Old Master sales in London was an interior scene by David Teniers the Younger (1610-90).

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The Salvator Mundi effect: a market transformation

16 January 2023

Ever since the record-breaking $400m sale of Salvator Mundi at Christie’s back in 2017, the market seems to have become fascinated with other treatments of the subject.

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Valuable consignment delivered on foot

16 January 2023

One of the most local consignments provided arguably the most notable lot at a Busby (21% buyer’s premium) sale in Bridport, Dorset, on November 17.

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Sleepers woken up via the internet

16 January 2023

Demonstrating how the internet has transformed the market for potential sleepers, three portraits that drew strong interest recently at different auctions in the UK and Europe all sold to online buyers.

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Old Masters: Still lifes take centre stage at sale of purchasing pioneer's collection

16 January 2023

Juan Manuel Grasset became part of a new generation who bought directly at auction from the 1960s

Strawberry Hill House

Old Master paintings go on long term loan to boost Strawberry Hill House collection

11 January 2023

Strawberry Hill House has recreated the look of Horace Walpole’s art collection with loans of fifty Old Masters pictures.

Portrait by Ary de Vois

Dealer Van Haeften sells Dutch Golden Age portrait to museum

09 January 2023

A museum in the Netherlands has bought a Dutch Golden Age portrait from dealer Johnny Van Haeften.

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US spotlight: Bumper line-up of Old Masters

09 January 2023

News of a busy month in New York including major fairs and a bigger auctions schedule

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Two Turners offered at Christie's Old Master series

09 January 2023

Two works by Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851), an early oil on canvas of the Thames and a watercolour of Switzerland, feature in Christie’s Old Masters series in New York.

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Restituted work at Sotheby's revealed as an early Bronzino

09 January 2023

The highlight of Sotheby’s January 26 part one Old Masters auction will be this newly discovered and recently restituted portrait of a man with a quill pen and a sheet of paper by Bronzino (1503-72).

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Noble resident of County Wicklow for around 150 years

09 January 2023

A portrait of a noblewoman catalogued as by a follower of Frans Pourbus the Younger, dated 1615, emerged as one of the highlights at Cheffins (24.5% buyer’s premium) in Cambridge.

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Baroque Old Masters lead group of works from the Fisch Davidson collection

09 January 2023

Assembled over three decades, the Fisch Davidson collection on sale at Sotheby’s on January 26 focuses on paintings by Baroque Old Masters.

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Old Master and commander offered at Doyle's auction

09 January 2023

This portrait by Sir Henry Raeburn (1756-1823) will be included in the sale of English and Continental Furniture, Decorative Arts and Old Master Paintings at Doyle in New York on January 25.

The Nativity

Ulster Museum acquires 16th century Nativity scene

05 January 2023

An Italian Nativity scene has been saved for the nation after it was blocked from export by the government.

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Bellotto by royal appointment

02 January 2023

One of four works as commission for the Polish king is the star lot of an Austrian collection

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