Recently Rediscovered Gentileschi Portrait Goes for New Record Price at Auction
The Art Newspaper has reported this morning that a recently rediscovered self-portrait of Artemisia Gentileschi in the guise of Saint Catherine has sold at a Druout auction in Paris for $2.85 million (€2.36 million), which sets a new record price for a work by the revolutionary Baroque-era painter.
Adept in her ability to absorb the Caravaggesque approach of the early 17th century, Gentileschi has also been recognized for her powerful self-portraits, making the discovery of this new composition all the more impactful upon her legacy as a Baroque master. The rediscovery was made by Christophe Joron Derem, a master auctioneer with Druout. Few details were shared as to the process of discovery, save for the fact that the painting was held within a singular family collection for a number of generations. Adding to the intrigue over this discovery is the composition’s similarities to Gentileschi’s Self Portrait as Saint Catherine (1619-1620), housed in the Uffizi collection.
Further reading:
Paul Jeromack, “Newly discovered Artemisia Gentileschi painting sells for €2.4m at auction in Paris,” The Art Newspaper, 19 December 2017.
Artemisia Gentileschi (recently attributed), Self Portrait as Saint Catherine, 1614-1616. Private Collection.
Artemisia Gentileschi, Self Portrait as Saint Catherine, 1619-1620. Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence.
Posted By Alexis Culotta
View the video below for more details views of the work and a brief discussion by Joron Derem (video courtesy of Druout ):