International Art Treasures Web Magazine

September 2004  

 

Vienna and Sydney

Autumn Old Masters
Vienna Dorotheum
Old Masters Auction
September 29, 2004

Flora, Silenus and Zephyr by Jacob Jordaens
Title: Flora, Silenus and Zephyr
Artist: Jacob Jordaens (Flemish, 1593-1678)
Estimate: €100,000
Image Courtesy: Dorotheum

Among the highlights of the Old Masters Auction has to be Jacob Jordaens' Flora, Silenus and Zephyr. Flora was the Roman Goddess of flowers and spring. Silenus was the chief satyr who served Bacchus, God of Wine and also the father of Dionysus. Zephyr was the Greek God of Wind.

The artist was a student and eventually the son-in-law of Adam van Noort. Caravaggio was a strong influence on Jordaens, who worked as an assistant to Peter Paul Rubens. Among his favorite subjects were the Satyr such as depicted by Silenus in Flora, Silenus and Zephyr.

Portrait of Mary Nollekens by Angelica Kauffmann
Title: Portrait of Mary Nollekens
Artist: Angelica Kauffmann
(Swiss, 1741-1807)
Estimate: € 90,000-120,000
Image Courtesy: Dorotheum		 Swiss born Angelica Kauffmann spent most of her artistic career working in Italy and England. She was the daughter of Joseph Johann Kauffmann.

The artist moved to London and was one of the founding members of the Royal Academy. The painting included in this auction is believed to be of Mary Nollekens, wife of another founder of the Royal Academy.

Kauffmann's portraits are considered the best of her works. The Old Masters Auction includes another Kauffman work based on Cephalos and Prokris from Ovid's Metamorphoses.

Artus Wolffort was noted for his religious themed works.

Esther in the Harem of Ahasuerus has an excellent use of light and shadows. The virgins are being prepared with myrrh and other cosmetics aids before presentation to the King who will select one, Esther, as his wife.

Esther in the Harem of Ahasuerus by Artus Wolffort
Title: Esther in the Harem of Ahasuerus
/ Esther im Frauenhaus des Ahasver
Artist: Artus Wolffort
(Antwerp, 1581-1642)
Estimate: €30,000-40,000
Image Courtesy: Dorotheum

The Vienna Dorotheum sale includes Wooded Landscape by Jacob Grimmers and works by Johann Georg Platzer and Kremser Schmidt.  Additionally the auction will include 19 illness themed works by various Dutch Masters demonstrating a unique retrospective of medical history.

Vienna Dorotheum

www.dorotheum.com

Diamonds Down Under

Take three experts in jewelry auctions, form a partnership, and every month hold an auction of jewelry and decorative arts. That's what David Bubb, Ian Abeshouse and Jonathan Alford did forming ABA Associates.

Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW, Sydney Australia
Title: Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW
Photograph by: Scott Wajon
Image Courtesy: State Library of NSW

Monday September 6th, ABA Associates will hold their next auction scheduled for 6pm held at the State Library of NSW in the sandstone Dixson Room. It is fitting to hold these auctions in a room named for Sir William Dixson, who donated his collection of historical paintings to the State Library of NSW.

ABA Associates

www.abaassociates.com.au

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