The Expert’s Choice… Old Master Paintings from the May Auction

As in previous auctions, the May sale offers the opportunity to explore works from different periods, styles, and schools. On this occasion, “the expert’s” selection focuses on a series of lots structured around the classical division of genres in painting, highlighting a number of works according to their subject matter.

One of the principal genres—particularly prominent during periods such as the Spanish Golden Age—is religious painting. This category encompasses representations of sacred narratives, based on texts from the Old and New Testaments, as well as the lives of saints, among others. Numerous examples can be found in the upcoming May auction; however, if one work were to be singled out, it would be an exceptional Saint Jerome Hearing the Trumpet of the Last Judgment, attributed to José de Ribera (lot 139). This painting reflects the artist’s inclination to depict saints and philosophers of Antiquity as embodiments of erudition and wisdom, rendered through a naturalistic treatment of drapery, surfaces, and flesh, achieved by means of dense and compact applications of colour, defined by powerful and striking contrasts of light and shadow.

From its early appearance as a backdrop in major history paintings, landscape gradually gained prominence until it emerged as an independent genre in seventeenth-century Dutch painting. Landscape may be either natural or urban, and within these categories further subtypes can be identified, such as seascapes. In French painting, one of the leading figures in this field was Vernet, who achieved great international renown, with his works widely copied and highly valued. A fine example can be found in the pair of Harbour Landscapes included in the auction, executed by a follower of Claude-Joseph Vernet (lots 89 and 90).

Still life painting, also known as nature morte, is concerned with the depiction of animals and fruit, but also includes man-made objects such as kitchen utensils, books, and jewellery. Its aim is the imitation of nature and its arrangement within a defined space. Although it was initially considered a lesser genre, it flourished in seventeenth-century Spain, as exemplified by the pair of large canvases in this auction by the painter Blas de Ledesma (lots 134 and 135).

Finally, mention must be made of portraiture, which over the centuries came to serve as a representation of the status of the sitter. This is exemplified by the superb Portrait of Juan Bautista Priaroggia by the painter Cornelis Schut (lot 138). In this work, the merchant of Italian origin presents himself with great dignity, proudly displaying the social standing he attained within the society of Cádiz in the last third of the seventeenth century. Art criticism has regarded this portrait as one of the artist’s finest works and one of the best examples of Sevillian portraiture of the period.

With this lot, we conclude the selection of Old Master paintings for the May auction. We hope the sale will be of interest to you and that you will find an opportunity to visit our galleries and enjoy the viewing of these and other works.