SALES AT A GLANCE:  

Sale overview: Christie’s presented the Maîtres anciens : Peintures - sculptures sale in Paris on 15 June, featuring a curated selection of fifty five works with a total estimate of between 4 and 6 million euros. Some significant rediscoveries were showcased in this auction; the Christie’s experts shone a light on previously unknown artworks from little-known collections all across France and Europe. One such work was the sale highlight, An alabaster vase filled with flowers, a masterpiece by Anne Vallayer-Coster (1744-1818) much admired at the 1783 Salon (The Académie des Beaux-Art’s annual exhibition). An online sale, also dedicated to Old Masters,  was offered from 1 to 16 June, this included 79 lots, for a total estimate of around €900,000 – 1.2 million.  

Maitres Anciens : Peintures-Sculptures : €8,867,480 

Maitres anciens : Peintures-Sculptures, online : €1,051,092 

Combined Sales total: €9,918,572 

Number of lots: 134 

THE TOP LOT OF THE SALES : 

Lot number: 42 

Work: Anne Vallayer-Coster (1744-1818), An alabaster vase filled with flowers, on a marble table with a pineapple, peaches and grapes, Oil on canvas, 1783 

Sold for: €2,581,500 establishing A WORLD AUCTION RECORD 

Pre-sale estimate: €600,000-1,000,000 

Lot essay : here 

PREEMPTIONS, ACQUISITION, HIGH PERFORMING LOTS AND OTHER HIGHLIGHTS : 

• Preemption by the Musée Condé de Chantilly 

François Clouet (Tours before 1522-1572 Paris) and Workshop 

Bust-length portrait of Francois Hercule of France, duke of Alencon and later of Anjou, circa 1561, bears an inscription, oil on panel Est. : €60,000-100,000, Sold for €151,200 (Lot 20) 

• Preemption by the musée du Grand Siècle 

Pierre Patel The Elder, Landscape with antique ruins and figures, oil on canvas Est. : €400,000-600,000 Sold for €403,200  (Lot 32). First time at auction 

• Acquisition by the musée d’Art Hyacinthe Rigaud, Perpignan 

Workshop of Hyacinthe Rigaud, Full-length portrait of Louis XIV, oil on canvas, Est. : €30,000-50,000, Sold for €50,400 (lot 144, online sale) 

• Jusepe de Ribera, Saint Jérôme, 1648, oil on canvas, Est. : €500,000-800,000, Sold for €2,036,500. First time at auction; consigned by the auction house Marambat-Malafosse based in Toulouse (lot 23). Record for a Ribera sold in France 

• LEIDEN SCHOOL 16th CENTURY, FOLLOWER OF LUCAS VAN LEYDEN, Man of sorrows; Mater Dolorosa, Est. : €40,000-60,000, Sold for €441,000 (lot 2) 

• A Mosan-Rhenish reliquary cross with enamel plaques, circa 1180-1200 and later.  Est. : €35,000-45,000, Sold for €88,200 (lot 5) 

• Two works by Angelika Kauffmann, First time at auction 

Palemon et Lavinia, oil on copper, oval, est. €30,000-50,000, Sold for €94,500 (lot 48) 

Amelie et Celadon, oil on copper, oval, est. €30,000-50,000, Sold for €119,700 (lot 49)