The world of the Visual Arts...: Market

The prices at TEFAF...

04/18/24 - One of the most popular art fairs on the planet is TEFAF, which is held in the city of Maastricht (Netherlands). Why? Because of the number of galleries presenting artworks, the variety of works, objects and jewelry on display, the excellent organization, the exuberant setting of hanging natural flowers and fluffy carpets, everything that is offered to potential buyers and much more. In short, while the trays carrying food with all kinds of crustaceans and glasses of champagne circulate around, you can tour an area of hundreds of square meters that, depending on your footwear and fatigue, can take a whole day. In addition, TEFAF has a peculiarity that we rarely see at other fairs: the prices appear on the signs. Therefore, to find out how much a painting or sculpture is worth these days (and without the need to bother the gallery owners) we chose a couple of works at random, just for information.

For example, The Temptation of Saint Anthony, by an artist who is a follower of Hieronymos Bosch (It is not a work by the artist, but by another artist inspired by him), is listed at 320,000 euros.

The temptations of Saint Anthony, by a follower of Hieronymos Bosch

Technique: oil on panel / Measures: 33 x 46,5 cm

The sculpture Melancholia by Dutch artist Hanneke Beaumont (1947), in bronze, coming directly from the artist's studio, costs 195.000 euros (this is number 4 of an edition of 8).

Melancholia, by Hanneke Beaumont (2022)

Material: bronze and cast iron.

A portrait preserved in perfect condition by Paulus Moreelse (Utrecht, 1571-1638) of a young lady in a black dress with gold embroidery and a lace crown, is offered for 85,000 euros.

A Portrait of a Young Lady, by Paulus Moreelse (signed and dated “M.f. 1632”)

Material: oil on panel / Measures: 76 x 62,3 cm

A sculpture by the founder of Concrete Art, Max Bill (1908-1994), who was the architect of this movement in the 1950s, is listed for 18,500 euros. This renowned Bauhaus student expresses "the spatial construction of form" with this exhibited work. Considering everything that Max Bill contributed to the history of art, since he was one of those who kicked off Modern Art, the price does not seem excessive. But, it is not a unique piece, since 200 of it were produced and the one offered is number 128.

Double, by Max Bill (1969)

Material: cremated brass, Numbered 128/200.

This exhibition is mostly inspirational for all of us who would like to share our daily lives with these objects, which leave their mark beyond the walls or spaces that contain them

6:55 p.m.
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Leonardo's record painting: Salvatori Mundi

Market

“Salvatori Mundi is the painting of the most iconic person in the world, created by the most important artist of all time”.

With this phrase Loic Gouzer opened the auction at Christie’s on Nov. 16th in New York. It started with a base of 75 million dollars and it took just 20 minutes for a buyer on the phone, which turned out to be Saudi Prince Bader, to get it for 450 million. A new record in the art world for a painting thought to be destroyed, till it became known that it belonged to a private collector.

It's an oil painting on wood of Christ as Saviour of the World, looking straight to the observer, wearing a blue and red tunic. He is holding a crystal ball in his left hand and raises his right one, blessing us. His face is serene and indecipherable, as a male version of the Gioconda and a portrait of Jesus as a human being. He is surrounded by mist, due to Leonardo's characteristic sfumato. The artwork also presents a perfect symmetry, because the artist used complex calculations based in Renaissance's auric proportion.

The painting dates from 1500 and was first recorded a hundred years later, as part of King Charles I Royal Collection. It is believed it was placed in the private chambers of his wife, Henrietta María. In 1763 it was sold to the Duke of Buckingham and years later it was auctioned when the British palace had new owners. Nothing was known of its whereabouts till 1900 when it was acquired by Sir Charles Robinson as an artwork done by one of Leonardo's apprentices, Bernardino Luini. In 1958 it was auctioned by Sotheby’s in 45 pounds. Fifty years passed till, in 2005, the owners explained that they have bought it for 10.000 dollars in strange circumstances. In 2011 it was officially attributed to Leonardo and displayed at the National Gallery in London. It is said that in 2013 Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev bought it for 127 million dollars in a private sale.

The authenticity of the artwork still raises doubts. Some experts question that Leonardo's skills can not be seen in the crystal ball. It represents, according to Christianity, Jesus' domain on the world. But the artist, having been an expert on optical effects, has not painted the image that should be reflected on the surface of the crystal. Plus, the wood in which the artwork was painted was attacked by worms and broken in halves, all of which seriously damaged the original work. The following restorations made it impossible to see how it was originally done.

Nonetheless the painting emanates Leonardo's aura and the Universe seems to have align itself to have this all happen near Christmas celebrations.