Dorotheum's newly renovated, state-of-the-art ceremonial hall, the Franz-Joseph-Saal, provided the elegant backdrop for the Old Master Paintings sale on April 24th, 2024. The first sensation of the night came right at the beginning of the auction with a Madonna and Child with John the Baptist by a close associate of Sandro Botticelli. After a bidding battle lasting several minutes, the painting was finally won by a telephone bidder for €663,875, having reached more than three times its estimate. 

The top prize of the evening went to Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes' Portrait-sketch of the Infanta María Isabel. The charming likeness is one of ten preparatory studies, five of which are now in the Prado Madrid, made by Goya for the celebrated, ground-breaking Portrait of the Family of King Carlos IV, also now in the Prado. The bidding exceeded double the estimate, reaching €712,500.

The work of three important female painters were also represented in the auction: 17th century Parisian artist Louyse Moillon's The Fruit Seller was successfully sold for €260,000; the small Portrait of a Noblewoman by Sofonisba Anguissola achieved an outstanding €169,000, and a dramatic result was achieved for Barbara Longhi’s Saint Justina of Padua which made €91,000, around ten times the original price.

In the 19th Century Paintings sale on 25th April, 2024 Dorotheum set new standards for the sale of Austrian works of art. Paintings by Theodor von Hörmann and Robert Russ fetched the highest prices ever achieved at auction. Hörmann's proto-modern Ice Floes on the Banks of the Thaya was sold to a bidder in the room for an outstanding €390,000 euros. The Italian Pergola by the atmospheric impressionist artist, Robert Russ was secured by a bidder, also in the room, for €195,000.