PHILADELPHIA, PA.- On the same day that Freeman’s | Hindman announced that the firm would rebrand under the historic name of Freeman’s, the firm held two auctions of Old Masters and 19th Century European Art auctions that exceeded expectations on its way to a $2.5 million day. The double header started with the single-owner auction, Echoes of the Past: Property from an Important Private Collection, in the morning and was followed by Old Masters and 19th Century Art in the afternoon.

“As demonstrated by the results from today’s auctions the market for fine Old Master and 19th century paintings and works on paper is experiencing somewhat of a resurgence. Collectors recognize the inherent value and quality of the better examples in these categories,” said David Weiss, Freeman’s Senior Vice President and head of sale for both auctions.

Echoes of the Past

An exceptional single-owner collection of Old Master and 19th century paintings and works on paper, Echoes of the Past vaulted past its presale estimate to a $1.1 million sale total. Italian artists in particular were in high demand, with 13 of the top 15 sale prices coming from the cradle of the Renaissance.

The top lot of the sale, and the day as a whole, was Cesare Dandini’s (Italian, 1596-1657) sizable depiction of St. John the Evangelist (lot 7), which sold for more than ten times its presale estimate at $330,700. Four phone bidders from both sides of the Atlantic vied for the lot in a minutes-long battle that resulted in the third-highest auction price ever achieved for the artist.

The 17th century oil on canvas exemplifies Dandini’s mature style. The young saint, set against a plain background, is shown sharpening his quill while his Gospel lies open. His traditional symbol, the eagle, rests before him. The warm tones of the saint’s skin and the vibrant sheen of his satin garments reflect Dandini’s fully developed technique and training.

Other highlights from the sale include:

• Lot 11 | Carlo Dolci (Italian, 1616-1686)
The Holy Family with God the Father and the Holy Spirit above: a Sacra Conversazione
oil on copper
SOLD FOR $108,450

• Lot 2 | Domenico Beccafumi (Italian, 1486-1551)
Study of the Head of Young Man looking to the Right, 1527-1538
oil over traces of black chalk on paper, laid down on card
SOLD FOR $76,700

• Lot 4 | Ferrarese School, circa 1480
Study for the Tomb of the Humanist Niccolò Perotti
pen and brown ink, brush and black ink and wash, heightened with white on green prepared paper
SOLD FOR $64,000


Lot 118 | Franz Roubaud (Ukrainian, 1856-1928), Circassian Skirmish. SOLD FOR $165,000

Old Masters and 19th Century Art

In the afternoon, Old Masters and 19th Century Art followed Echoes of the Past with a $1.4 million total of its own. The sale saw exceptional results from across the breadth of the category as artists from throughout the continent and from everywhere from the 17th to the 20th century saw prices exceed presale estimates.

The top lot of the sale was Franz Roubaud’s (Ukrainian, 1856-1928) Circassian Skirmish (lot 118), which sold for nearly seven times its presale estimate for $165,600. As the title suggests, Roubaud’s oil on canvas Robaud’s oil on canvas depicts Circassian horseman with a panoramic vista beyond.

Other highlights from the sale include:

• Lot 9 | Follower of Melchior de Hondecoeter (1636-1695)
Attributed to Philips van Kouwenberg (1671-1729)
Poultry Yard, 17th Century
oil on canvas
SOLD FOR $89,400

• Lot 20 | Giovanni Paolo Panini and Studio (Italian, B.C. 1692–1765)
A Capriccio With Figures Gathered Around the Obelisk of Augustus, a View of the Pantheon, the Statue of Marcus Aurelius and the Temple of Sybil, Tivoli
oil on canvas
SOLD FOR $76,700

• Lot 107 | Montague Dawson (British, 1890-1973)
The Flying Clipper "The Cutty Sark"
oil on canvas
SOLD FOR $64,000

An Anniversary to Remember

The pair of sales marked not only the first sale under the unified Freeman’s brand for the firm, but also the first sales of the firm’s 220th year. In November 1805, Tristram B. Freeman was appointed auctioneer for the City of Philadelphia by the governor of Pennsylvania and held his first auction. The firm has been in continuous operation ever since.

Freeman’s

Freeman’s is a premier American auction house offering services in multiple categories including fine art, jewelry, design, books and manuscripts, furniture, decorative arts, antiquities, couture, and Asian works of art. With 16 regional locations nationwide, the firm provides auctions, appraisals, private sales, and art advisory services, connecting clients to the global art market. Freeman’s strives to bring art, history, and design to life by connecting people with extraordinary objects through exceptional service and expertise.