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.

The June auction session has started and the first results seem positive. Starting from Finarte’s antique furniture and paintings, sold on 4th and 5th June in Milan. The auction totalled about 2,100,000 euros.
The catalogue offered objects from precious private residences, including an elegant residence of Belluno, many of which had not been on the market for a while. This was an important incentive for collectors.
The evening’s top lot was “Madonna col Bambino” (also called “Madonna di San Luca”). This is a painting by an anonymous artist from the Venetian-Cretan school.

Here you are the most interesing prices of last days.

translated by Giorgina Arcuri

On 27th May, Sotheby’s Milan housed “Modern and Contemporary Art”, a very interesting auction that totalled 12,368,680 euros. Of the 345 lots presented to the public in the saleroom, during the three rounds, the works of some great artists stood out, pieces that have marked the evolution of the history of Italian art, such as “Achrome” by Piero Manzoni (estimate 500-700 thousand euros, sold for 800 thousand euros, rights excluded) or a beautiful painting executed by Giuseppe Santomaso in 1959, which from a pre-sale estimate included between 120 and 180 thousand euros, achieved 110,000 euros (rights excluded), while another work from 1978, valued at 120-180 thousand euros, sold for 210,000 (rights excluded).