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.


The Holy Family by Gerard David

Getty Museum buys three Old Masters to ‘bolster the collection’

06 December 2023

The Getty Museum has announced the acquisition of three Old Masters which were all bought this year from separate European sources.

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Fragonard in serious mood or with a lighter touch

04 December 2023

Pictured here are two paintings by Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806) appearing on the French auction scene this season within the space of a month - one sold, the other upcoming.

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Newly identified Mary Beale portrait sold to Boston museum

04 December 2023

Dealer Peter Harrison has sold a recently reidentified portrait by 17th century painter Mary Beale (1633-99) to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

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Old Masters suit you down to a D

04 December 2023

Collection from unnamed vendor supplies some of the highest prices in a sale at the Drouot centre

Diego Velázquez portrait

Major Old Master emerges as Velázquez portrait of Spanish queen comes to Sotheby’s

30 November 2023

A large full-length portrait of Isabel de Borbón, Queen of Spain, by the great Diego Velázquez (1599-1660) will be offered at Sotheby’s New York in February.

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Elizabethan gent ready to research

13 November 2023

This three-quarter-length portrait of an Elizabethan gentleman, attributed to the circle of the court painter George Gower (c.1540-96), hammered for $32,000 (£26,500) on October 15.

Cimabue picture

Louvre buys medieval panel discovered in a French kitchen

08 November 2023

A medieval panel discovered above a stove in a kitchen in France has been bought by The Louvre Museum.

Portrait of Sir Joshua Reynolds

Mini Reynolds comes to auction in Chicago

06 November 2023

A small autograph version of the famous portrait of Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-92) in the permanent collection of the Royal Academy of Arts comes for sale at Hindman in Chicago on November 16.

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Frieze Masters racks up the sales

06 November 2023

Eleventh edition of the London event now widened in scope includes an impressive array of big results

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Mystery painting unites two nobles

06 November 2023

Doyle’s (26% buyer’s premium) sale of Old Master and 19th century Paintings & Drawings in New York on October 19 was topped by a 15th or 16th century Flemish School oil on panel portrait of a soldier.

Ombersley Court

Historic collection from grand Worcestershire home comes to auction at Christie’s

31 October 2023

A £2m collection from Ombersley Court, a Grade I-listed country house near Droitwich Spa, will be offered at Christie’s next month.

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Pen and wash works marked for Hans Bols make waves

23 October 2023

Old Master drawings inscribed for Flemish artist Hans Bols blow away the estimates in Chartres

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Lauterer landscape returns to home turf

23 October 2023

Art Recovery International has assisted in the return of a painting missing from Germany since the Second World War.

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Bidder contemplation of Mai-Thu brings five figures

23 October 2023

An example of 20th century French-influenced painting by the Vietnamese artist Mai-Thu (1906-80) proved to be atop-selling lot.

Rembrandt picture

Reidentified Rembrandt emerges at Sotheby's auction

16 October 2023

Sotheby’s and Christie’s have both announced major lots that will feature at the next series of Old Master auctions in London in December.

Jan Wijnants’ painting

English Heritage buys Dutch Golden Age picture

12 October 2023

English Heritage has bought a Dutch Golden Age painting that had previously been on loan to one of its properties in South Yorkshire.

Penelope and Euriclea

Angelica Kauffman picture returns to National Trust’s Stourhead after 140 years

10 October 2023

Angelica Kauffman’s Penelope and Euriclea has been bought at auction by Stourhead, the National Trust’s Wiltshire stately home, and will go back on display at the property for the first time since the mid-19th century.

English School portrait

Auction of Robert Kime collection takes more than £7m

09 October 2023

The sale of the collection of dealer and ‘titan of design’ Robert Kime drew a flurry of interest at Dreweatts last week, raising more than £7.6m hammer across three days.

Ann Forbes

Ann Forbes portraits show natural talent of an artist excluded from formal training

09 October 2023

While the Dundee-born painter Catherine Read (1723-78) is considered the first Scottish women to work as a professional artist, a close second was Ann Forbes (1745-1834).

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Prints aplenty in the US

09 October 2023

A Rembrandt drypoint of 'Jan Uytenbogaert, The Goldweigher', 1639, is among the offerings at this year’s The IFPDA Fair (International Fine Print Dealers Association). Brought by Childs Gallery of Boston, it is offered for $36,000.

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