Rare Double-Sided Masterpiece by Antonello da Messina Leads Sotheby's Old Masters Sales
A stunning double-sided masterpiece by the Italian Renaissance master Antonello da Messina will lead Sotheby’s upcoming Old Masters week, featuring a unique blend of spiritual resonance and artistic innovation. The painting, which dates back to around 1460-1479, is estimated at $10-15 million and is one of only a few works by Antonello still in private hands.
The panel's double-sided design presents two evocative compositions: the emotionally charged and profoundly human "Ecce Homo" on the front, depicting Christ as a youthful figure bound with thorns, and the more lyrical image of "Saint Jerome in the Desert" on the reverse. The latter shows Saint Jerome kneeling in a rocky desert landscape, surrounded by sparse trees, books, and devotional objects.
The painting's exceptional provenance, exhibition history, and documented scholarly literature make it a highly sought-after work among collectors and museums. Its rarity and beauty have earned it a high estimate, with many art historians and experts hailing it as one of the most significant works to come to auction in recent years.
"This work by Antonello da Messina is both extremely rare and extremely important, and opportunities like this simply don’t come along very often," said Christopher Apostle, Sotheby’s International Head of Old Masters. "This painting is a true masterpiece that will captivate anyone who sees it."
The sale is expected to attract significant attention from collectors, museums, and art enthusiasts, given the exceptional quality and rarity of the work. The success of this auction has the potential to reinvigorate the Old Masters market, with many experts predicting a strong resurgence in sales.
Other highlights of Sotheby’s upcoming Old Master sales include works by prominent artists such as Jacopo Tintoretto, Giovanni Bellini, Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn, and Jean-Honoré Fragonard. The auctions are expected to offer a diverse range of art, from paintings and drawings to sculptures and rare books.
The Master Works on Paper from Five Centuries sale will feature the extraordinary "Young Lion Resting" by Rembrandt, which is estimated at $15-20 million. Proceeds from the sale will benefit Panthera, the nonprofit organization founded by American investor Thomas S. Kaplan in 2006.
As the Old Masters market continues to experience a resurgence, collectors and art enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating these sales, which promise to reveal exceptional works of art that have the potential to redefine our understanding of artistic innovation and masterful craftsmanship.
A stunning double-sided masterpiece by the Italian Renaissance master Antonello da Messina will lead Sotheby’s upcoming Old Masters week, featuring a unique blend of spiritual resonance and artistic innovation. The painting, which dates back to around 1460-1479, is estimated at $10-15 million and is one of only a few works by Antonello still in private hands.
The panel's double-sided design presents two evocative compositions: the emotionally charged and profoundly human "Ecce Homo" on the front, depicting Christ as a youthful figure bound with thorns, and the more lyrical image of "Saint Jerome in the Desert" on the reverse. The latter shows Saint Jerome kneeling in a rocky desert landscape, surrounded by sparse trees, books, and devotional objects.
The painting's exceptional provenance, exhibition history, and documented scholarly literature make it a highly sought-after work among collectors and museums. Its rarity and beauty have earned it a high estimate, with many art historians and experts hailing it as one of the most significant works to come to auction in recent years.
"This work by Antonello da Messina is both extremely rare and extremely important, and opportunities like this simply don’t come along very often," said Christopher Apostle, Sotheby’s International Head of Old Masters. "This painting is a true masterpiece that will captivate anyone who sees it."
The sale is expected to attract significant attention from collectors, museums, and art enthusiasts, given the exceptional quality and rarity of the work. The success of this auction has the potential to reinvigorate the Old Masters market, with many experts predicting a strong resurgence in sales.
Other highlights of Sotheby’s upcoming Old Master sales include works by prominent artists such as Jacopo Tintoretto, Giovanni Bellini, Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn, and Jean-Honoré Fragonard. The auctions are expected to offer a diverse range of art, from paintings and drawings to sculptures and rare books.
The Master Works on Paper from Five Centuries sale will feature the extraordinary "Young Lion Resting" by Rembrandt, which is estimated at $15-20 million. Proceeds from the sale will benefit Panthera, the nonprofit organization founded by American investor Thomas S. Kaplan in 2006.
As the Old Masters market continues to experience a resurgence, collectors and art enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating these sales, which promise to reveal exceptional works of art that have the potential to redefine our understanding of artistic innovation and masterful craftsmanship.
. The fact that it's double-sided with two incredible pieces, like "Ecce Homo" and "Saint Jerome in the Desert", just blows my mind. I mean, can you imagine having a piece of art that's not only rare but also tells two different stories? It's like getting two paintings for the price of one 
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. The art world is always about making statements, and this painting does just that - it's like a work of art within a work of art 
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. Can't wait to see what these auctions have in store for us! 
Anyway, I'm excited to see what happens at the auction! 
. And let's not forget, this sale could spark a whole new wave of interest in Old Masters sales – can't wait to see what else comes out! 
just learned about this super rare double-sided masterpiece by Antonello da Messina that's gonna be sold at Sotheby's... like whoa! $10-15 million is crazy 
. Can you imagine owning a piece by Antonello da Messina? 
The fact that it's one of only a few works still in private hands makes it super valuable, but also kinda sad that we're not seeing more of them in museums 
. Anyway, I'm hoping the sale will bring awareness to the Old Masters market and maybe inspire some new collectors & art enthusiasts to get into it 
. I'm also stoked to hear that some of the profits from this auction will go towards Panthera - it's always awesome when art and philanthropy come together 
.