Old Masters prove a big draw

Classic paintings by Guardi and Turner sold for huge money in London, writes Des O’Sullivan

A Guardi from the Guinness collection and a Turner landscape were the standout lots at classic art and Old Master sales at Christie’s and Sotheby’s in London.

The Rialto Bridge with the Palazzo dei Camerlenghi by Francesco Guardi sold for £26.2m at Christie’s.

This is the highest price paid for an Old Master this year.

It had been handed down through generations of the Guinness family.

The previous evening, JMW Turner’s Ehrenbreitstein sold for £18.5m at Sotheby’s Old Master sale.

This auction was 85.3% sold by lot, the highest ever sell through rate for any Old Master sale in London.

‘The Rialto Bridge with the Palazzo dei Camerlanghi’ made £26.2m at Christie’s last week.

The total value of Old Masters sold by both auction houses last week was over £95m.