Art News

Christie’s Expects to Break Auction Records with Rembrandt & Raphael Sale

Two employees carry Rembrandt's "Portrait of a man, half-length, with his arms akimbo" at Christie's auction house in London. Its pre-sale estimate is 18-25 million pounds, meaning it could set a new auction record for the artist. -  Photo: EFE / Daniel Deme

LONDON (REUTERS).- Christie’s is confident the recession is
well and truly over in the world of fine art, with a record old masters
sale in London next week that includes important works by Rembrandt,
Raphael and Il Domenichino.
 The world’s largest
auctioneer is calling its December 8th old masters and 19th century
auction a “landmark,” and pre-sale estimates range from 45-63 million
pounds ($75-105 million), its highest ever for such a sale.
 “This auction promises to be a
landmark sale for the art market,” said Richard Knight, international
co-head of old masters at Christie’s.