VIENNA.- A spectacular newly discovered painting provided the focal point of Dorotheum's auction of Old Master paintings on the 18th October 2016: Jacopo Tintoretto's Battle between David and Goliath is a major work by the celebrated Venetian Mannerist and it reached a price of 907,500 euros. The fascinating genesis of the painting was revealed by x-ray analysis and the painting is also remarkable for its eclectic composition of interconnecting vortexes, which demonstrates why Tintoretto is considered one of the founding fathers of modern art.

Exactly five hundred years after the death of Hieronymus Bosch, Dorotheum presented the Inferno, a painting by one of his followers. The picture, based on the right panel of the altarpiece of the Garden of Delights in the Prado, went to a collector for 527,600 euros.

Other significant sale results include a harbour scene by Jan Brueghel I., sold for 430,742 euros, and the Venetian view painting of The Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge by Giuseppe Bernardo Bison, which achieved 320,200 euros.

Jusepe Ribera's Saint Jerome and Alessandro Turchi’s The Communion of the Magdalene both achieved results well beyond their pre-sale estimates (308,000 euros and 234,800 euros respectively), while the Netherlandish work The Holy Family with a Parrot sold for 377,253 euros, more than three times the original estimate.

This auction of Old Master paintings was one of the most successful in Dorotheum’s history.

Soaring bids and world records characterised the auction of 19th century paintings on 20th October 2016.

The painter Leon Schulman Gaspard drew a top price of €173,800 with his favourite theme, “La Fin de la Kermesse“. The auction house achieved 125,000 Euro, the highest price ever for 'Aimez-vous les uns les autres' or 'La transgression du commandement', a large-scale work by the Rome-based Frenchman Henri Camille Danger that critiques those who violate the imperative to `love thy neighbour'.

Further world records were set for a Paris-based Italian painter, Ulisse Caputo ('The Piano Player', €100,000) and for a painting that evokes Rafael by Johann Evangelist Scheffer von Leonhardshoff, also known as 'Raffaelino', of 'The Virgin Mary in the "Hortus Conclusus". A still-life painting by Franz Xaver Gruber obtained €50,000, the most ever paid at auction for a work by the artist.

Bidders went wild over diamonds, coloured gemstones, and international names at the auction on 20 October. A 5.44 carat diamond pendant of the utmost quality rose to a price of €210,400, while a Bulgari ring with a 'fancy' cut diamond yielded €87,500.

A pair of Meissen ornamental vases with 'birdcage' and guelder roses garnered €247,700, the highest price at the porcelain and glass auction on 19 October 2016.

Overall, the auction week was Dorotheum's best in autumn to date featuring old master paintings and 19th century paintings.