The climate experienced by the art market at the moment is not very good. All the economists are speculating about the possible reactions of collectors and investors in the leading New York auctions, that is Christie’s and Sotheby’s. A suggestion that one could go by is to observe closely the less clamorous sales, the ones that in their own modest way can give entirely new advantages to this economic sector. Among these we recommend a sale scheduled at Finarte in Milan on 8th November 2008. “Ottocento – Nineteenth century paintings” is the perfect occasion to make advantageous deals, thanks to some inviting offers and estimates.
A traditional autumn appointment at Finarte dedicated to nineteenth century painting, which presents a high-quality catalogue, with only 41 lots, carefully selected by experts, to offer enthusiastic collectors only the best of what the market can currently offer.
Highlights include “Patatrac” (Crash), a typical example of Gaetano Chierici’s style, which will be put up for auction for an estimate between 150 and 200 thousand euros. It is an extremely interesting work by the Emilian artist, who in this late nineteenth century canvas represents an amusing genre scene where the protagonists are some children and a group of fluttering geese.
A very precious composition is the work by Luigi Busi entitled “Gioie Materne” (Motherly Joys), valued between 120 and 150 thousand euros, but also “Ritorni dai campi” (Returns from the fields) by Paolo Michetti which will be presented to the audience with an estimate between 100-140 thousand euros. A beautiful work by this master from Abruzzo, which has never been cleaned and still has its original patina. For this reason it results slightly dry. Nevertheless, the auction house considers this work in perfect state of preservation, as this is one of those rare cases in which time has made the work more precious, rather than attacking it.
Just as important for its value is a work by Enrico Reycend, “Quieta Canavesana” (Canavesan quietness) presented in the catalogue with a valuation of 80-100 thousand euros.
Other very interesting pictures for their artistic and historical value are “Pro patria omnia”, a large painting based on an allegoric theme by Giuseppe Boschetto (estimate: 80-100 thousand euros) and “La moglie e i bambini in giardino” (Wife and children in the garden), executed in 1914 by Armando Spadini (estimate: 70-90 thousand pounds).
Moreover, interesting pieces for their quality-price ratio are “Il venditore ambulante a Costantinopoli” (Street vendor in Constantinopolis) by Alberto Pasini (estimate: 60-80 thousand euros), “Pescatorelli nel golfo di Mondello” (Fishermen in the gulf of Modello) by Francesco Lojacono (estimate: 50-70 thousand euros), “Conversazione a Prestinone” (Preservation in Prestinone) by Carlo Fornara (estimate: 40-60 thousand euros), a painting bought by the artist’s family of origin between 1915 and 1920, and “Girovaghi affamati. Tromboni” (Hungry wanderers. Tromboni), a lovely genre scene by Giovanni Battista Quadrone offered at the Milanese auction with a valuation between 60 and 80 thousand euros.
An authentic rarity is “Testa di donna – La prima modella” (Woman’s head – The first model) by Antonio Mancini, an oil on canvas estimated by Finarte between 60 and 80 thousand euros.
It is one of the very first exceptional paintings executed by Mancini at the Fine Arts Institute in Naples, realised by the master in 1866, when he was just fourteen years old. Given by the painter to doctor Antonio Lepre, professor of artistic anatomy at the mentioned institute, as well as general practitioner of the Mancini family and art collector, it was then passed over to the collection of Costantino Nitti in Genoa.
Fortunato Bellonzi defines it a work “of almost miraculous maturity”, while in the exhibition catalogue on the “Gazzetta del Popolo” of Turin from 1940, Emilio Zanzi identifies it as the starting point of Mancini’s pictorial research, in other words as the work that marks the logically consequential beginning of a long and superb struggle that will come to an end before his death with the portrait “L’uomo dal martello nero” (Man in black mantle) and with “Autoritratti con turbante rosso” (Self-portraits with red turban).
Among other works worth mentioning “Al Pascolo” (At pasture) by Achille Fornis (estimate: 30-40 thousand euros), but also “Barche alla Giudecca” (Boats on the Giudecca) by Guglielmo Ciardi (estimate: 40-60 thousand euros) and three beautiful landscapes by Giuseppe Bernardino Bison (estimate 30-40 thousand euros).