09/01/2002

The 25th of January sees Christie’s Old Master paintings sale, with the top lot being Joseph Mallord William Turner's maritime painting Sheerness as seen from the Nore. Though considered by the British journal “Examiner” in 1808 as the “the finest sea-piece ever painted by a British Artist” it is not a striking work compared to Turner’s best known stormy seascape kept at the National Gallery, London known as Margate from the Sea and the Christie’s offering with a big quote of $ 6-8 million (€ 6.7-8.9 million) may prove hard to match on the day. Other key works include Redentore and the New Prisons by Canaletto estimated at $ 4-6 million (€ 4.4-6.7 million) and Mars by the Flemish Mannerist artist Bartholomaeus Spranger at $ 600,000-800,000 (€ 672,660-896,880). Among the 17th century paintings are Pier Francesco Mola’s An artist and a youth priced at $ 300,000-500,000 (€ 336,330-560,550) while The conversation of Saint Paul on the road to Damascus by the landscape painter, Herri Met de Bles is estimated at $ 300,000-500,000 (€ 336,330-560,550). Other important works in the sale include Hendrick and Barent Avercamp, Jan Van Goyen and Jacob Van Ruysdael. (Andrew Moore)