Old Master pictures in the limelight at auction
09 March 2022 A sale of Old Masters and 19th century pictures taking place this month will offer works ranging from an historic view of Venice to a sinuous figurative chalk sketch.
‘Veduta of the Canal Grande with the Fondaco dei Turchi’ by Jacopo Fabris – £5000-8000 at Roseberys.
The sale is being held at Roseberys on March 22 and includes 246 lots in all. Here is a selection of five lots that caught our eye to give a flavour of what’s on offer.
1. Jacopo Fabris vedute
Among the Old Masters in the Rosebery’s sale is this painting depicting a view of Venice by Jacopo Fabris (1689-1761), pictured above. It shows the Fondaco dei Turchi, a palazzo on the Grand Canal.
Fabris left Venice in 1720 and did not return, so the majority of his Venetian views were based on the engravings and paintings of other artists, in this case a print from the Il gran Teatro di Venezia (The great theatre of Venice) series published by Domenico Lovisa (1690-1750).
Venetian-born Fabris specialised in painting architectural views in Venice and Rome but spent much of his later life in Germany, working as a court painter in Hamburg and at the Berlin Opera in the service of Frederick II the Great. In 1746 he moved to Copenhagen and entered the court of Frederick IV, subsequently teaching architecture and perspective at the Academy of Art, Charlottenbourg.
According to art historian Dario Succi, the attribution of this work is confirmed by the distinctive stylistic and technical characteristics of the 22.25 x 2ft 8in (57 x 83cm) oil on canvas. It is estimate £5000-8000.
View the catalogue entry for this Jacopo Fabris painting on thesaleroom.com.
2. Andreas Martin river landscape
A mountainous river landscape by Andreas Martin – £1500-2500 at Roseberys.
The Flemish artist Andreas Martin (1720-1767) was known for his imaginary landscapes, topographical pictures, cityscapes of Brussels and rural genre scenes. An example of his work will be offered at the Roseberys sale. It depicts an idealised river landscape with an imposing classical building and hilltop fort with its style and subject harking back to the works of earlier Flemish masters like Jan Brueghel the Elder (1568-1625).
The 13.75 x 20in (35 x 51cm) oil on panel is estimated at £1500-2500. View the catalogue entry for this Andreas Martin painting on thesaleroom.com.
3. Burne-Jones study
Among the 19th century British pictures at the Roseberys sales is a sketch for The Wheel of Fortune by Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones. The larger painting depicts a giant wheel turned by the Goddess of Fortune and is now in the Musée d' Orsay – Paris. On the other side of the chalk drawing is another study of an Italian bronze group. It is estimated at £5000-7000. View the catalogue entry for this Burne-Jones sketch on thesaleroom.com.
4. Benjamin Williams Leader landscape
Another 19th century picture at the Roseberys sale is this river landscape by Benjamin Williams Leader (1831-1923). It dates from 1899 and is thought possibly to be a study for a larger oil titled 'Summer eve by a haunted stream' which was exhibited in the Royal Academy in London. The estimate is £700-1000. View the catalogue entry for this Benjamin Williams Leader landscape on thesaleroom.com.
5. George Perrin woodland scene
Among the more affordable works at the Rosebery’s sale are two woodland scenes (one shown) by late 19th century British artist George Perrin. The signed pair of oils on canvas is estimated at £150-200. View the catalogue entry for this George Perrin woodland scene on thesaleroom.com.
