Commanding a Fortune: Roedig Achieves Record-Breaking Price at Bonhams Old Masters Sale

Johannes Christianus Roedig (The Hague 1751-1802) Tulips, roses and other flowers in a classical urn overturned by a cat chasing a mouse with a statue of Flora beyond; and Peaches, grapes, pumpkins, a lemon, a pomegranate and other fruit and flowers in a wicker basket on a marble plinth, with a classical urn beyond, both signed and dated 'C Roedig/1779' (lower right, in brick and lower left, on stone) a pair, oil on panel, 73 x 57.5cm (28 3/4 x 22 5/8in). (2) Sold for £1,196,000. Photo: Courtesy Bonhams

The sale of Old Masters at Bonhams New Bond Street proved the enduring popularity of these paintings raising a total of £2,840,960 with 90% of lots sold by value. The results included a record price for a Roedig painting, with Tulips, roses and other flowers in a classical urn overturned by a cat chasing a mouse with a statue of Flora beyond; and Peaches, grapes, pumpkins, a lemon, a pomegranate and other fruit and flowers in a wicker basket on a marble plinth, with a classical urn beyond – sold as a pair – achieving £1,196,000 against a pre-sale estimate of £700,000-900,000.

Elsewhere, other paintings proved popular with buyers and many lots exceeded their pre-sale estimates due to the fierce competition both within the saleroom and internationally. Theobald Michau's A winter landscape more than doubled the estimate of £50,000-80,000 to sell for £240,000, whilst François Boucher's Les caresses dangereuses also performed well reaching £228,000 against an estimate of £80,000-120,000.

Theobald Michau (Tournai 1676-1765 Antwerp) A winter landscape with figures skating on a frozen river, oil on copper, 47.6 x 63.8cm (18 3/4 x 25 1/8in). Sold for £240,000. Photo: Courtesy Bonhams

François Boucher (Paris 1703-1770) Les caresses dangeureuses, oil on canvas, 80 x 64.5cm (31 1/2 x 25 3/8in). Sold for £228,000.  Photo: Courtesy Bonhams

Other highlights included an early 17th century painting by the Anglo Dutch School – a Portrait of two children, full-length, both in red costume which sold for £132,000 (estimate £40,000-60,000), and a brace of paintings by Jan Wildens whose An elegant company departing for the hunt before an open landscape and A river landscape achieving £126,000 (estimate £50,000-70,000).

Anglo Dutch School, 1622 Portrait of two children, full-length, both in red costume, the boy with a whip and top, the girl holding a fan, inscribed and dated 'Natus. 22:/ Maij: 1617.' (upper left), Stilo. Angliae./ Pict/ 7o Jan/ 1622' (upper centre) and 'Nata. 7. Jan:/ 1615.' (upper right), oil on panel, 111.8 x 104.8cm (44 x 41 1/4in). Sold for £132,000. Photo: Courtesy Bonhams

Jan Wildens (Antwerp 1586-1653) An elegant company departing for the hunt before an open landscape; and A river landscape with fishermen returning to shore, with shipping in the distance; a pair, oil on canvas, 116 x 154cm (45 11/16 x 60 5/8in). (2) Sold for £126,000. Photo: Courtesy Bonhams

Also attracting tremendous interest was An elderly bearded man in prayer by Jacques de Rousseaux reaching four times the estimate to sell for £78,000 (estimate £10,000-15,000), whilst the biblical scene Classical ruins before an Italianate lake landscape, with Christ handing Saint Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven; and An architectural capriccio both by Giovanni Ghisolfisold for £74,000 (estimate £30,000-50,000).

Jacques des Rousseaux (Tourcoing circa 1600-1638 Leiden) An elderly bearded man in prayer, signed with initials and dated 'JR 1631' (lower left), oil on panel, 66.4 x 51.5cm (26 1/8 x 20 1/4in). Sold for £78,000. Photo: Courtesy Bonhams

Giovanni Ghisolfi (Milan circa 1623-1683) Classical ruins before an Italianate lake landscape, with Christ handing Saint Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven; and An architectural capriccio with the Parable of the fish, an open landscape beyond; a pair, oil on canvas, 69 x 101cm (27 3/16 x 39 3/4in) and 70.5 x 102cm 27 3/4 x 40 3/16in). (2) Sold for £74,400. Photo: Courtesy Bonhams

Earlier paintings had a similarly enduring appeal to buyers – Cornelius van der Voort's Portrait of Lady achieved £50,400 (estimate £15,000-20,000) with The interior of a picture gallery from the Studio of David Teniers the Younger reaching £40,800 (estimate £7,000-10,000). Also performing outstandingly well and way beyond expectation was A skull, lizard, coins and an hourglass in a painted stone niche by the German School (dated circa 1600) which was hotly contested to eventually sell for £50,400 – over ten times the pre-sale estimate of £2,000-3,000.

Cornelis van der Voort (Antwerp 1576-1624 Amsterdam) Portrait of a lady, three-quarter-length, in black costume with a gold embroidered bodice and a white lace headdress, holding a fan, oil on canvas, 117.8 x 87.8cm (46 3/8 x 34 9/16in). Sold for £50,400. Photo: Courtesy Bonhams

Studio of David Teniers the Younger (Antwerp 1610-1690 Brussels) The interior of a picture gallery with two men examining a seal and red chalk drawing, a dog and monkey present, oil on canvas, 66.5 x 82.5cm (26 3/16 x 32 1/2in). Sold for £40,800. Photo: Courtesy Bonhams

German School, circa 1600, A skull, a lizard, coins and an hourglass in a painted stone niche, oil on canvas, 28.5 x 23.2cm (11 1/4 x 9 1/8in). Sold for £50,400. Photo: Courtesy Bonhams

Andrew McKenzie, Director of Old Masters at Bonhams comments: 'We are delighted for our clients. We had anticipated considerable interest before the sale, but a number of particularly remarkable results are clear testament to the continuing strength of the Old Masters market.'