Top results on the first auction day, 14 December

Old Master Paintings

Der erste Tag der Weihnachtsauktion im Kinsky brachte auch die ersten hohen Zuschläge.

Spitzenreiter war der „Winter-Karneval“, Sebastian Vrancx zugeschrieben, der seinen oberen Schätzwert um mehr 100.000 Euro übertreffen konnte und mit 422.500 EUR (alle Preise inklusive Aufgeld) einen neuen Besitzer fand. Fast ebenso erfolgreich verlief die Versteigerung des „Bauernadvokaten“ eines Nachfolgers Pieter Brueghels des Jüngeren, der einem Bieter 115.500 EUR wert war.

The frontrunner was the "Winter Carnival", attributed to Sebastian Vrancx, who was able to exceed his upper estimate by more than 100,000 EUR and found a new owner at 422,500 EUR (all prices including premium). Almost as successful was the auction of the "peasant advocate" from a successor of Pieter Brueghel the Younger, which was worth 115,500 EUR to a bidder.

But not only the Dutch, but also the Italians enjoyed great popularity. For example, for a "Madonna with Child and Two Angels"by Neri di Bicci a bidder was willing to pay 64,000 EUR.

Above all, it was exciting to see that many bidding wars were fought online, which speaks for the great attractiveness of this department even among a younger generation of collectors.

19th Century Paintings

Then it was the turn of the paintings of the 19th century: a field that is perhaps a little underestimated today and about whose revival there can be no doubt.

This was proven, for example, by the bidding war for a rarity from the hand of the famous Biedermeier painter Carl Spitzweg. The four medallions represent the " experiences of an older man" and climbed to 115,500 EUR.

Equally successful was a watercolor by Franz von Alt from his late phase of life. The "entrance to the Gothic St. Nicholas Church in Gastein" from 1898 went above the upper estimate price to 39,000 EUR.

As in the last auction, the works of the Polish father and son Kossak, Wojciech and Jerzy, were particularly in demand. All ten paintings went to new owners for sums often above the estimated price, while the opulent painting "Napoleon's Vision on St. Helena" from1922, painted by Jerzy Kossak, was sold for 32,000 EUR.  (Alexandra Markl)