This latest sale will offer approximately 40 lots, a mix of Old Masters, 19th century, modern and Contemporary art and is estimated to exceed €3m. “Celebrating four centuries of Spanish art, we intend to make this an annual event in Spain,” said Jan Varez of Christie’s Spain.
“We have recently seen a surge of interest in our nation’s art and this auction responds to the growing audience for both private and international sales.” Holding sales in Spain will also give Christie’s the opportunity to offer works that cannot leave the country because of export limitations.
Highlight of the Old Masters will be a pair of paintings by Juan van der Hamen y Léon, the 17th century still life painter (works which cannot be exported). Both feature arrangements of fruit on a stone ledge and are estimated at €800,000-1.2m each.
Christie’s to hold sales again in Spain
Christie’s are to hold their first auction in Spain since 1999 this autumn when they offer a sale devoted to Spanish paintings in Madrid on October 6. Although they have maintained an office in Madrid, Christie’s last Spanish auction was five years ago when they held the Bendinat House sale in Mallorca.
