NEW YORK, NY.- Sotheby’s 2013 Old Masters Week sales in New York began with the two-day sale of Property from the Estate of Giancarlo Baroni, which brought a strong total of $13,859,634, above pre-sale expectations of $8.4 – 12.1 million. Bidders from around the globe filled the salesroom and participated by phone and via the internet, actively pursuing works from the renowned Old Master connoisseur, collector and dealer’s collection, which ranged from 15th century gold ground paintings to works by El Greco, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Bernardo Bellotto and Giovanni Boldini, among others. The sale was led by Eva Gonzalès’ La demoiselle d’honneur, which achieved $2,546,500, more than four times its pre-sale high estimate of $600,000, and a new record for the artist at auction. The evening session alone brought in $11.6 million, well above the pre-sale high estimate of $9.4 million, with over 84% of lots sold.

The evening session began with an outstanding price achieved for lot 1, The Madonna and Child resting at a parapet by the Workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio, which was sought after by several bidders, finally selling for $842,500, nearly eight times the high estimate of $120,000 (right). Other highlights included Bernardo Bellotto’s Venice, a view of the Molo, looking west, with the Palazzo Ducale and south side of the Piazzetta which brought a strong price of $1,258,500, and El Greco’s The entombment of Christ, which sold for $902,500. One of the most exciting moments of the sale came when Giovanni Boldini’s Lady in a yellow hat with her dog (Marchesa Casati) was pursued by two determined phone bidders who drove the final price to $866,500, over two times the high estimate of $300,000.

Two small-scale, rare and early examples of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo’s private devotional images, The Madonna facing front and wearing a blue cloak and Mary Magdalene in three-quarter view, veiled in a white cloth, achieved more than double their pre-sale high estimates of $160,000 with prices of $374,500 and $350,500, respectively.

Two additional auction records were achieved today for a work on paper by Bernardo Strozzi and Gian Paolo Panini. View of the courtyard of the Palazzo Farnese with the statue of Hercules, seen from behind and through an archway, and several figures by Gian Paolo Panini fetched $362,500 (est. $100/150,000) while The Penitent Magdalene holding a crucifix resting on a scull by Bernardo Strozzi sold for $152,500.