With an estimated price of PLN 18 million to PLN 24 million (EUR 3.9 million to EUR 4.8 million), the painting by the famous Flemish artist of the Baroque period is likely to become the most expensive work of art ever sold in Poland.
In its 400-year history, Portrait of a Lady belonged to the collections of eminent aristocrats, magnates and royal families, and was the object of interest of renowned British and French art dealers.
The work comes from the period of the greatest prosperity of Rubens’s Antwerpian studio. From there, it found its way to the British Isles, becoming the property of Sir Peter Lely, an English painter and art collector.
For over 160 years, it remained at the Stowe House, a magnificent aristocratic residence in Buckinghamshire.
Passed from one dealer’s hand to another, it was eventually acquired by Jules Porges, a French mining tycoon and collector of precious stones and paintings by Dutch and Flemish masters.
The painting appeared at auctions in London four times, the last time in 1876. It remained until 2011 part of the collection of Egyptian Prince Muhammed Ali Ibrahim and Princess Hanzade, who lived in exile in Paris.
"The presentation of Portrait of a Lady is an event of huge importance for the art market," Juliusz Windorbski, president of DESA Art House, told the media.
He added: “A work of art with such a huge historical, artistic and investment value has never been shown before in Poland. This outstanding work, with a model provenance and confirmed authenticity, can reinforce Poland’s already strong position on the European auction market.”
Tomasz Dziewicki of DESA Unicum told reporters that the March 17 auction is expected to attract art collectors from across the world.
More info at: desa.pl
(mk/gs)