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Sotheby's Old Master sales in New York set records for Bronzino and Cavallino

market-auction · 2026-04-27

Sotheby's Masters Week in New York, held on January 26, saw impressive sales of $86.6 million, surpassing the expected $74 million. The week’s total is anticipated to approach $100 million. Key highlights included two major collections: the Fisch Davidson Collection, which sold for $49.6 million, and the Theiline Scheumann Collection, which brought in $8.1 million. The top sale was Peter Paul Rubens' 'Salome presented with the head of Saint John the Baptist,' fetching $26.9 million, marking a significant auction record for him. Additionally, Bernardo Cavallino's 'San Bartolomeo' set a new record at $3.9 million, while Agnolo Bronzino's 'Portrait of a young man' sold for $10.6 million. The session for Master Paintings Part I totaled $28.8 million, with Italian Old Masters contributing around $30 million.

Key facts

  • Sotheby's Old Master sales in New York on January 26 totaled $86.6 million.
  • Pre-sale estimate was $74 million.
  • Masters Week projected total approaches $100 million.
  • Fisch Davidson Collection achieved white-glove auction with $49.6 million.
  • Peter Paul Rubens' 'Salome presented with the head of Saint John the Baptist' sold for $26.9 million.
  • Bernardo Cavallino's 'San Bartolomeo' set a record at $3.9 million.
  • Agnolo Bronzino's 'Portrait of a young man with a quill and a sheet of paper' sold for $10.6 million, a new record.
  • Anthony Van Dyck's study for Saint Jerome, found in a barn, sold for over $3 million.
  • Titian's 'Ecce Homo' sold for just over $2 million.
  • Italian Old Masters accounted for about $30 million in sales.

Entities

Artists

  • Agnolo Bronzino
  • Bernardo Cavallino
  • Peter Paul Rubens
  • Anthony Van Dyck
  • Titian
  • Mattia Preti
  • Guercino
  • Orazio Gentileschi
  • de La Tour

Institutions

  • Sotheby's
  • Fisch Davidson Collection
  • Theiline Scheumann Collection

Locations

  • New York
  • United States
  • Kinderhook
  • New York State

Sources