The importance of the online market is increasing in the whole world. The most famous auction houses already started investing in this sector at the end of the nineties. Not only for the realization of websites that were more aware of clients’ needs but also with regard to online auctions and the possibility of buying and selling through internet.
Although the initial results were not quite satisfying, in the last years the sector has grown significantly for importance. At the moment profits from this sector are not comparable to traditional sales (and most probably never will be), however we must recognize that the world is evolving in this direction and the online market will definitely take on more and more.

Private companies can always understand more easily not only market trends but also changes in society and its tendencies. Perhaps this is why companies and foundations in these years have oriented their artistic interests towards the contemporary world. Not wrongfully. Indeed, artistic data confirm that the boom of contemporary art has also conquered Italy.
On the basis of a recent survey carried out by the Institute for Public Opinion, the market of contemporary art would have an enormous potential in the Bel Paese. The Ispo survey observed that 9 million Italians claim to be interested in contemporary art (18% of the population) and about 5 million would like to buy a work of art. Furthermore, Italians seem to be becoming more aware of young artists. According to 71% of the people interviewed for this research, art and the valorization of the big and young artists are important as cultural heritage of Italy.

For the Cambi Auction House in Genoa, the last days of May were animated by the sale of antique objects and paintings that took place over three days, from the 28th to the 30th.
The sale result is defined good by the auction house’s communication bodies. Overall results are not available yet but we can certainly point out some of the most interesting prices achieved during the auction.
There were sessions rich in surprises. Many of the most paid lots of the various sessions realized astonishing prices compared to their estimates.
The top lot of the three days was an oil on canvas realized by Gaspare Diziani, “Il fuoco sceso dal cielo protegge Elia e distrugge i soldati di Ocozia”. The work was presented in catalogue with an estimate of 80,000 – 100,000 euros and sold for 163,400 euros.

The ‘Ancient Paintings and Drawings’ exhibition held on 28th Nay 2008 at Christie’s auction house Milan, totaled 3.756.239 euros, with 87% of sales. For the first time, unpublished work by Giacomo Ceruti, also known as Pitocchetto, was presented.

The results achieved by the auction of 19th-century paintings held by Finarte in Venice were not totally satisfying. The sales totalled 530,286 euros (including auction rights), but of the 200 lots presented only 62 were acquired during the evening.
The top lot was the painting by Edoardo Dal Bono, which exceeded every expectation and sold for 96,720 euros (estimate 75,000 – 30,000 euros). One of most relevant hammer prices was achieved by “La Chambre à Coucher” by Federico Zandomeneghi, sold for 43,400 euros (estimate 40,000 – 45,000 euros). But in particular, positive surprises for Vincenzo Irolli: “Tra le Braccia della Mamma” achieved 53,320 euros