Old Masters

Sotheby’s is taking legal action to recover its losses over the sale of a ‘fake’ Italian Old Master.

A rediscovered chalk portrait by Andrea d’Angiolo, called Andrea del Sarto (1486-1530), has set an record for any Old Master drawing sold at auction in France.

A newly-discovered drawing that has been attributed to Leonardo da Vinci will be offered by Paris auctioneers Tajan next year, estimated at €15m (£9.62m).

The withdrawal of two key works dented the overall total at Christie’s evening sale of Old Masters last night. However, some spirited bidding did emerge on a number of lots which helped lift proceedings.

A preparatory sketch by John Constable was knocked down for £720,000 at Bonhams earlier today.

Sotheby’s Old Master evening sale in London last night was somewhat short of stellar works but the auction registered a decent performance for the material on offer.

Theodore Johns aims to introduce younger collectors and Caravaggio enthusiasts to a group of more affordable works with an exhibition of paintings inspired by the Old Master.

A sketch for one of John Constable celebrated paintings has been rediscovered after more than 70 years and is estimated to take £200,000-300,000 in Bonhams Old Master auction next month.

Two unusual works by Giovanni Antonio Canal, better known as Canaletto (1697-1786), will be on display in a Mayfair Gallery this week prior to their sale at auction later in the month in Genoa, Italy.

The Princely Collections of Liechtenstein has released a document to counter claims that 'Venus', a painting attributed to Lucas Cranach the Elder, is a forgery.

Christie’s have appointed the former Metropolitan Museum curator Stijn Alsteens as international head of the Old Master drawings department.

The buyer of a major Old Master painting at the centre of a potential ‘fakes’ scandal has strongly defended its authenticity as a row threatens to erupt over its attribution.

Lawyers representing the Frenchman Giulano Ruffini have defended his role in handling paintings at the centre of a ‘fakes scandal’ besetting the Old Masters market.

For the second time in a month a French museum has secured a painting by Hubert Robert.

A series of Old Master paintings has come under the spotlight as further details emerge about a potentially major fakes scandal.

Earlier this year, authorities in France seized a painting attributed to Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553) which was being exhibited in the Caumont Centre d’Art in Aix-en-Provence.

A rediscovered portrait of the Old Pretender – James Francis Edward Stuart, Prince of Wales – will be sold at Dorotheum in Vienna on October 18.

A series of pictures from the collection of Brian Sewell drew spirited bidding at Christie’s with particular interest coming for his Old Master drawings.