Saskia with Pearls in her Hair was one of many prints the Dutch artist made of his wife, whom he often portrayed in various fantasy guises such as biblical heroines and classical goddesses.
However, this portrait is small and intimate, made during the first year of the couple’s marriage. The image is delicate and closely observed, paying particular attention to Saskia’s social status represented through her clothes and jewellery.
It had a provenance to a private German collection and was offered by the gallery which has locations in New York and Düsseldorf.
The 34th staging of the fair ran from April 25-28 at the Royal Academy of Arts. Though the majority of the offerings were contemporary, a number of more traditional and modern prints found buyers, including examples by Barbara Hepworth, Goya, Chagall and Dalí.
Redfern Gallery, Osborne Samuel and Gerrish Fine Art were among the exhibitors.
Purchases from prize
The annual Hallett Independent Acquisitions Award went to The Holburne Museum, Bath.
The institution put the £8000 prize towards acquiring prints by Cornelia Parker and Pablo Bronstein from Alan Cristea Gallery which will complement its historic collection with some contemporary works.
