Old Masters

Bonhams is offering a portrait at its upcoming Old Master sale in London which is being billed as one of the earliest paintings of Sir Francis Drake.

When art dealer Jan Six viewed a portrait at Christie’s catalogued as ‘circle of Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn (1606-1669)’ in 2016, he was convinced it was by the hand of the master. Two years on, it has now gone on view in Amsterdam with its attribution fully confirmed by scholars.

A painting thought to be a copy of a Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) portrait when it was deaccessioned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art will now be offered at Christie’s in London with a full attribution. It will carry an estimate of £3m-5m.

Sotheby’s has negotiated the private sale of a still life by Juan de Zurbarán (1620-1649) to the National Gallery, London.

The primary contents of North Mymms Park in Hertfordshire – including a collection of European tapestries that have been at the property for over a century - have sold at auction for close to £2m.

A rare 17th century depiction of an African man in Europe by Peter Paul Rubens has been placed under a temporary export bar in an attempt to keep it in the country.

An Old Master portrait missing for nearly 80 years has been returned to the heirs of Dutch banker and art collector Fritz Gutmann. They now plan to auction the picture with an estimate of $1m-2m.

The Salon du Dessin opened this week for its 27th edition at the Palais Brongniart in the Bourse district of Paris. There was the usual mix of languages at this international event that draws collectors, dealers and curators to Paris from far afield to see what new discoveries the 39 exhibitors have bought to the specialist works on paper fair.

A previously unpublished sketch of the back of a Hampstead terrace by John Constable (1776-1837) drew prolonged bidding at Roseberys' latest picture sale.

Sotheby’s has chosen Dubai to unveil a Rubens painting it plans to offer later this summer in a bid to tap into the hoped-for demand for Old Master paintings in the Middle East.