Christie’s New York Old Masters Total: $14,430,900
New York – Christie’s Old Masters sale on 10 June, realized a total of $14,430,900, selling 88% by low estimate, with strong prices for Northern Renaissance and Baroque masters, as well as spirited bidding on sculptures from across centuries. The top lot in the sale was The Tower of Babel by Pieter Brueghel the Younger, an ambitious, monumental picture on panel that shows the strong influence of his father, Pieter Brueghel the Elder. It brought $2,580,000. Other highlights among paintings include Roses, lilies, an iris and other flowers in an earthenware vase by Clara Peeters, which realized $1,500,000; The Bagpiper and Marry Wife, by Jan van Hemessen, which fetched $1,134,000; and A View of Beverwijk, by Salomon van Ruysdael, which sold for $567,000. Two sculptures sold well above their estimates, A Group of Composite Figures of Ceres, Venus, Apollo, and Mercury in the Manner of Joseph Chinard, which brought $604,800, more than eight times its low estimate; and A Polychrome And Gilt Limestone Figure Of Saint Roch attributed to Gilbert Betrand, which made more than 20 times its low estimate, at $592,000.
