VIENNA.- Old masters are always in season – as the Dorotheum auction of 17th October 2017 once again showed, when numerous bidders vied to acquire the excellent selection of paintings at this well-attended event.

The remarkable story behind the work of the Florentine painter Felice Ficherelli, as well as the fact that is has spent the last few centuries in a family collection, were reflected in the sensational 350,508 Euros paid by an art enthusiast for "St Praxedis". Dorotheum’s research revealed that the painting once so impressed the famous painter Jan Vermeer that he copied this particular version.

Giovanni Paolo Castelli's (“Lo Spadino“) pre-Surrealist allegorical series of the four seasons rendered in fruits and plants reached a total of 436,956 Euros. Simon Vouet's picture of a high-ranking officer was acquired by an international museum for an excellent 295,800 Euros.

A newly discovered Guercino work in oil on copper, which was originally a sketch for the painting "Christ Risen appearing to the Virgin Mary", sold for 137,200 Euros, and hence far above expectations. “Adam and Eve” from the Flemish School of the 17th century, likewise saw significant appreciation resulting in a winning bid of 186,000 Euros.

Additional highlights included Jusepe de Ribera's portrait of the philosopher Heraclitus, Salomon van Ruysdael's “River estuary“ (each € 222,600), “A winter landscape with carnival scene, outside the Kipdorppoort Redoubt, Antwerp" attributed to Sebastian Vrancx, and a view of Venice by Giuseppe Bernadino Bison (each € 161,600).