The immaculately preserved painting “The Nativity”, by the workshop of Hans Memling, one of the most significant Flemish painters of the late 15th century following Rogier van der Weyden, took the top price in Dorotheum’s Old Masters Auction on 19th April 2016. The work sold to a telephone bidder for 1,200,000 euros.

A crowded hall and lengthy bidding wars dominated the course of the auction: a number of paintings achieved prices way above their estimates. A newly discovered painting from the workshop of Peter Paul Rubens ‘The Judgement of Paris’ was a particular success, realising €868,733. The picture, an important subject of the artist, is the basis for one of his most popular compositions.

Another new discovery was the significant painting ‘Christ bearing the Cross’, painted during the early career of Guido Reni, which saw a winning bid of €491,000. The painting of ‘The Holy Family with Saint Anne’ by Huybrecht Bueckeleer, with a provenance from a Bavarian private collection, reached an outstanding €430,742.

A still life from the 17th century by Francois Habert took a world record price of €247,000. This painting demonstrates the virtuoso ability of the artist in depicting various materials, as well as his skill in handling the effects of light on various surfaces.

Further highlights: a painting from the circle of Caravaggio (€295.800), Andrea Vaccaro’s “Susanna and the Elders” (€271,400), Johann Georg Platzer’s “In the Painter’s Studio” (€186,000), and a painting by Jacopo del Sellaio (€222,600).

After the auction that included the sale of Frans Francken’s masterpiece for 7,022,300 euros, this is the most successful Old Masters auction of Old Master paintings to date in Dorotheum’s history.