The Crucifixion with the Virgin, Saint John the Baptist and the Magdalen at the Foot of the Cross
tempera on gold-ground poplar panel, arched, the original engaged frame regilded
25.1/8 x 15 in. (59.7 x 34.2 cm.)
Estimate: £4,000,000-6,000,000 at Christie’s London 6 July 2023
When I went to college I figured I wanted to be a banker, and since bankers collected art, I should study art history, to know what to collect. And so I studied Italian Renaissance painting. Which was fascinating and enthralling and transporting, but which is also the least collectible period of art imaginable. It’s even hard to see it in person.
So the idea of a 60cm tall painting by Fra Angelico being for sale is momentarily giving me pangs of regret for not sticking with banking. Anna Brady’s report on the Christie’s announcement has more detail about the painting, history, context, and scholarship than the Christie’s announcement itself, so that’s nice.
The painting of a crucifixion, dated roughly to 1419-1424, will be on view in New York from 10-14 June. Meanwhile, I’ve got about a month to scare up an extra £6 million. BRB.
For just the third time this century, a Fra Angelico heads to auction [theartnewspaper]
[update: it sold for £5,001,000 after a bid of £4.1m.]
Previously, related: nvm, I guess I never posted, only tweeted, about going to dinner and seeing a Giotto on the wall. Ah, I see, it was May 2021, while considering a Giotto Facsimile Object.