The time-honoured and internationally important Old Master Paintings department at Dorotheum has reached numerous world records and top prices.

In the past, Dorotheum has repeatedly demonstrated its pre-eminence in the field of Flemish painting: With the outstanding world record price of 7 million euros for Frans Francken’s masterpiece Man Choosing between Virtue and Vice, Dorotheum broke several records: the highest price ever paid for an Old Master painting in continental Europe and, at the time, the highest hammer price ever realised for a painting in Austria. The monumental painting, The Mocking of Human Follies, by the Flemish painter Frans Verbeeck sold for 3,035,000 euros, thus reaching a world record for a work by this artist. Paintings by the Brueghel dynasty also regularly achieve top prices.

With a strong presence in Milan and Rome, the Old Master Paintings department is also traditionally successful with works by Italian artists. The sale of Tiziano Vecellio’s Penitent Mary Magdalene fetched an outstanding 4,818,000 euros. The world record price for a work by Guido Cagnacci and top results for paintings by Federico Barocci, Giovan Battista Salvi, Paris Bordon, Guercino, Melchior de Hondecoeter, Jan Lievens, Willem Kalf, Giovanna Garzoni, Francesco Guardi and Antonio Joli are among the further highlights achieved by one of Dorotheum’s most respected sale categories. Dorotheum also made its mark on the art market for Old Master paintings with a record price of 1,885,000 euros for the depiction of Lucretia by Artemisia Gentileschi.

Our important auctions take place twice a year in the exclusive setting of the Palais Dorotheum in Vienna. The selection is traditionally rich and varied: landscapes and genre scenes, history paintings, portraits and still lifes, famous paintings from a variety of stylistic periods – such as Gothic, Renaissance, Mannerism, Baroque, Classicism – and different schools.

The international character of our highly specialised team, its long-time experience in the art market as well as excellent contacts among collectors and institutions make the Dorotheum one of the international leaders in the purchase and sale of highly valuable Old Master paintings.

Our specialists remain at your disposal for evaluations. This service is free of charge and involves no obligation.