24/09/2001
by Andrew Moore

Italy’s first major Old Master fair of the autumn, opened in Florence on the 22^nd of September until the 7^th of October, with a mix of Old Master, 19^th century and modernist paintings as well as offerings from high quality antiquarians, book dealers, print dealers and furniture merchants. Known as "La XXII Biennale dell’Antiquariato di Firenze", this year’s event is being held in a Baroque palace, the Palazzo Corsini, covering an area of 1,200 square metres. Overlooking the river Arno and providing a fitting backdrop to the participating 76 dealers, the works will be on view for two weeks in the palazzo’s exuberantly fashioned Salon, designed by Antonio Ferri (1694-1696) as well as in the frescoed Aurora Gallery.

In the main this is a local affair with 61 of the 76 exhibitors being Italian, but what it lacks in international presence it more than made up for with Italian flair. The foreigners are well known on the Italian antiquarian scene, with De Jonckheere from Paris, Trinity Fine Art from London and Pandora Old Masters from New York – each of which were seen previously at "The Milano International Antiques Show" which was held at the Palazzo delle Belle Arti ed Esposizione Permanente back in April 2001 (which had 43% of its galleries coming from outside of Italy). However what makes this year’s event extra special is the showing of Michelangelo’s (1475-1564) drawing Mourning Woman which was brought to the show by Jean-Luc Baroni of Colnaghi Gallery, in London. The drawing was sold at Sotheby’s, London back in July for $ 8.4 million (€ 9.03 million) and has been the talk of many artwatchers after it was discovered by a specialist from the auction house’s Old Master department, whilst leafing through a book in the library of Castle Howard, in the north of England, in the early half of 2001. The National Galleries of Scotland had tried to buy it, before the sale, after having reportedly raised $ 10.9 million (€ 11.8 million).

De Jonckheere Gallery, Paris have also a very topical subject: An allegory of smell by Pieter Brueghel the younger (1564-1638). It shows a female figure by a garden entrance, with an array of animals and plants depicted in the artist’s characteristically intricate style. Christie’s, New York are offering a similar work by Jan Brueghel (1568-1625), the artist’s brother (one of each of the five senses) on the 3^rd of October, with their work, An allegory of smell included in a five part lot at $ 1.8-2.2 million (€ 1.98-2.48 million). De Jonckheere were able to give a quote of FF 2.9 million ($ 409,128, € 442,102) and wiley collectors may sense a rush for this type of painting. The gallery is a also presenting A still life of fruit by Cornelis de Heem (1631-1695) at 2.2 million FF ($ 310,440, € 335,390). Altomani and Sons, are here from Pesaro presenting works ranging in price from $ 43,200-540,160 (€ 40,000-500,000): these include Portrait of Niccolo Machiavelli by Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio, a tempera on panel, measuring 65 x 67 cm as well as Saturnino Gatti’s (1463-1521) Virgin and child, an oil on board measuring 35.5 x 45 cm.

It is the first time that the Dover Street Gallery, London are exhibiting in the Firenze Biennale. Of particular note in their stand is a A view of the Colosseum, Rome, seen from the southeast by Gaspar van Wittel. After spending his youth in the Dutch Polder town of Amersfoot, Matthias Withoos (later van Wittel) moved to Rome and is first recorded in the city in 1675 under the Italianised name Vanvitelli, remaining in the country until his death in 1736. Van Wittel specialised in producing topographical views. An idea of his market was seen when Veduta of Messina sold for $ 157,900 (€ 198,240) on the 13^th of June at the Milan auctioneers, Finarte, twice its estimate. The Dover Street Gallery were unable to provide quotes for their van Wittel, however. They also have a pair of Still-lifes of flowers by Mario Nuzzi called Mario de’Fiori (1603-1673) and Salvator Mundi, an oil on poplar wood panel measuring 52.7 x 37.2 cm by the Venetian artist, Alvise Vivarini (1445-1503). This work which has only recently been discovered, is thought to be an earlier version (or prototype) of the artist’s same subject which now hangs in the Brera Museum, Milan. Other important galleries at Florence include Paolo Antonacci, Rome: Alessandro Cesati, Galleria Silva, Carlo Orsi, PIVA & C., all from Milan: and de Clemente from Florence.