LONDON.- Christie’s announce the evening sale of Important Old Master and British Pictures in London on 6 December 2007, which is highlighted by Important Old Master Pictures from the Collection of Anton Philips, and led by Two studies of a young man by Sir Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) (estimate: �4,000,000-6,000,000). Also offering a diverse offering of Dutch, Flemish, French, Italian and Spanish pictures, many of which are being offered at auction for the first time in centuries, the sale is expected to realise in the region of �30 million. The auction builds on the success of the sale of Important Old Master and British Pictures in London in July which realised �41.5 million / $83.7 million, and saw Raphael’s portrait of Lorenzo de’ Medici realise a record �18.5 million / 37.3 million.

Leading the auction is an impressive selection of Important Old Master Pictures from the Collection of Anton Philips. Dr. Anton Philips, one of the most prominent entrepreneurs of the 20th century and the co-founder of Royal Philips Electronics, had a passion for Old Master paintings and owned a considerable private collection, an impressive selection of which will be offered at Christie’s on 6 December 2007. A comprehensive representation of predominantly 17th century Dutch and Flemish paintings, 17 pictures will be offered with a collective estimate in excess of �8 million.

The highlight is Sir Peter Paul Rubens’ (1577-1640) Two studies of a young man which was painted between 1615 and 1617 and is expected to realise �4 to 6 million illustrated above. The panel (46.5 x 65.5 cm.) is a study for Melchior in The Adoration of the Magi at the Mus�e des Beaux-Arts in Lyon and shows a Levantine head, pictured en face and en profil respectively. The sitter is unkown but judging by his tanned skin, plain shirt and leather hat, it is thought that he could have been a contract labourer building the extension of the artist’s house in the Wappen, Antwerp.

The present picture was rediscovered in 1934 when Mr Douglas Lewis of Merton Park, near Wimbledon, brought it to Christie’s having acquired the work in a box of paintings at a local West Country auction. The picture was recognised as a Rubens and was offered at Christie’s on 23 November 1934 where it sold for �1,560. It was acquired soon afterwards by Anton Philips who displayed it as a central work of his private collection at his house Villa de Laak. The picture left this sanctuary on very few occasions, and was exhibited at The Muse�s Royaux des Beaux Arts in 1937 and the landmark Rubens oil sketch exhibition at The Museum Boymans van Beuningen in Rotterdam in 1953.

Further paintings from the collection include A landscape with cattle grazing on a bank, Dordrecht beyond, an atmospheric landscape by Aelbert Cuyp (1620-1691) which is expected to realise �1,000,000-1,500,000; A river landscape with cattle watering and sailing boats beyond by Salomon van Ruysdael (1600-1670) which carries an estimate of �800,000-�1,200,000 illustrated left and A village street with a hurdy-gurdy player and a violinist playing outside a tavern by Adriaen Jansz. Van Ostade (1610-1685) (estimate: �700,000-1,000,000).

Elsewhere in the auction, Madonna and Child, an exceptional work by Orazio Gentileschi (1563-1639), is estimated to realise �1,500,000-2,500,000. Offered as the Property of Mrs. Barbara Piasecka Johnson, the proceeds of sale to benefit in part the Institute for Child Development in Gdansk, Poland, and exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, in 2002, this moving depiction of the Madonna and Child is painted with rich use of colours, the wide eyes of the infant Jesus gazing up at the Virgin Mary. Orazio Gentileschi was one of the most gifted and closest followers of Caravaggio, although his work tends to be more colourful and defined. In 1626, he settled in England and became court painter to Charles I. The present work is thought to have been painted as a private commission for an Italian patron, possibly Cardinal Giacomo Sannesi (1551-1621).

A rediscovered painting by Jan Lievens (1607-1674) which has never been offered at auction, and which has been in the ownership of the present family for over 200 years, will be offered with an estimate of �800,000-1,200,000. Painted in the mid to late 1620s and first recorded in 1640 in the inventory of the artist’s neighbour and early patron, Jan Jansz. Orlers, the picture was in the possession of the great actor Barton Booth (1681-1733) by the early 18th century. It passed by family descent to the 1st Lord Eliot, and has remained in the family ever since. Jan Lievens was a great friend of Rembrandt and the two artists are thought to have shared a studio, and are known to have shared models; indeed, the sitter in the present work also appears in Rembrandt’s A man in a gorget and a plumed cap (J. Paul Getty, Museum, Los Angeles). The painting is being offered as The Property of The Trustees of the Earl of St. Germans’ 1962 Settlement. (The house and grounds of Port Eliot in Devon, which includes an impressive and diverse collection of early British pictures, will be open to the public daily from 1 March to 8 June 2008 from 2pm to 6pm.)

Jan van der Cappelle (1624/6-1679) is arguably the greatest Dutch marine painter of the 17th century. Having inherited a personal fortune from his father, van der Cappelle split his time between teaching himself to paint and building a formidable art collection which included works by Rubens and Frans Hals, as well as 300 landscape sketches and a number of paintings by Rembrandt. This auction will offer A calm sea with ships near the shore, an outstanding example of the artist’s work which is expected to realise �2,500,000-3,500,000.

Portrait of a gentleman is one of the last remaining portraits by Quentin Metsys (1466-1530) to remain in private hands, and is one of a pair, the pendant of which hangs in the Metropolitan Museum, New York. Metsys was a leading figure in the Northern Renaissance and is often credited as being the founder of the Antwerp School of painting in the 16th century. The present work will be offered with an estimate of �700,000-1,000,000. Leading the section of Spanish works in the sale is Ecce Homo, a rediscovered and beautifully preserved panel by Luis de Morales, el Divino (circa 1515 - 1586?). Most likely painted for an important patron in the 1560s, the picture embodies the intense spirituality for which the artist is most recognised, and is an important addition to very few recorded autograph works by el Divino. The Nativity with the Annunciation to the Shepherds beyond, an atmospheric and dramatic depiction of the Nativity by Bartolom� Esteban Murillo (Seville 1618-1682) is expected to realise �400,000-600,000. Dancing the Minuet by Giandomenico Tiepolo (1727-1804) and The Piazza San Marco, Venice, looking West towards S. Geminiano by Francesco Guardi (1712-1793), his Uncle, represent two great artists of 18th century Venice and both carry an estimate of �600,000-800,000.

British paintings in the sale include Portrait of John Rolle Walter (1712-1779) by Pompeo Girolamo Batoni (1708-1787) which is expected to realise �300,000-500,000. Batoni was the most popular portraitist in Rome during the 18th century and painted many distinguished foreign visitors making the Grand Tour including John Rolle Walter, a landowner and politician from Devon, who visited Rome in 1753. A painting of the artist’s birthplace by John Constable, R.A. (1776-1837) will also be offered at the auction. View of East Bergholt House is one of a series of paintings of the subject dating to 1809-1811, and is similar in composition to examples in The Mellon