Nov 27, 2020 4:32 PM

The specialist's choice – Lisa Gartz lists favourites among sculptures and old masters

Important Winter Sale - focus on art and sculptures

We have spoken to Lisa Gartz, Specialist Old Master Painting and Sculpture. Read about her point of view on the content in this season's Important Winter Sale before the auction 10-11 December. Also, explore some of Lisa's personal favourites.

What can we look forward to this season's Important Winter Sale?
We are pleased to present a diverse selection of art to be sold on December 10, including a fine international department spanning from beautiful still lifes, exciting allegories, landscapes to portraits and exquisite older drawings. We are also proud to present magnificent sculptures such as 'The Two Wild Boars' and 'The Flying Horse' by Carl Milles and Zorn's 'Faun and Nymph'. Among the older Swedish art we can present highlights such as works by Hilleström, exciting and lively naval battles by Schoultz and a personal favourite Arenius' miniature portrait of Countess Sparre-Wrede.

What should you think about if you want to start collecting older paintings or sculptures?
Train your eye by visiting museum exhibitions, looking at the public art around us all and attending auction house viewings. Feel free to ask about availability, quality or themes. We are more than happy to help you and give you a personal tour. You should always buy with your heart, so think about what motives and materials "speak to you".

If you are going to start collecting, you will see a large mixed selection of art in all price ranges in the auction, but what we have in common is that we have chosen the best.

What makes older paintings and sculpture interesting to you?
The wingspan of history has always captivated me and art tells so much about the time it was created in. Older painting is not only creating rooms; they also contain all the world's fascinating stories and life stories that often surpass the poem. The symbols are important; if you learn its keys, a whole world opens up with ancient stories, biblical stories, exciting political events and much much more. Sculptures are also often based on a fascinating interplay between the composition itself and the material and where play between light and shadows produce interesting shapes, which also changes character if you move the artwork in the room.

333. Carl Milles, "The flying horse"

Creating movement, enormous speed forward and at the same time weightlessness in something made in bronze requires its artist, and here I think Carl Milles has succeeded the mission excellently. His horse flies forward, as when one of the Spanish riding school's Lipizzans makes one of their world-famous jumps, a so-called capriole. Carl Milles' sculptures are well known far beyond the borders of Sweden, seeing this work of art you understand why.

Estimate 350 000 – 400 000 SEK

To the artwork

398. Johan Tietrich Schoultz "A naval battle between a Swedish and a Danish ship"

Johan Tietrich Schoultz naval battles are truly fascinating. This is where reality surpasses poetry. Schoultz himself served on Swedish ships when Sweden and Russia were at war 1788-1790, which is the reason for the details being so authentic. This is political art and photographs long before the time of the camera.

Estimate 40 000 - 50 000 SEK / 3 918 - 4 897 EUR

To the work of art

348, Gustaf Lundberg, "Count Carl Gustaf Tessin" (1695-1770) with the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle, 1746"

Carl-Gustaf Tessin is one of the fascinating personalities in Swedish 18th-century history, known as, count, politician, diplomat, councillor, court superintendent and more.

As superintendent at Stockholm Castle, he was responsible for the expensive furnishings that were made at this time. He laid the foundation for the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (then the Royal Academy of Drawing). He is one of the leading representatives of the then prevailing French taste. As the great art lover he was, he bought a lot of precious paintings, drawings and engravings that today belong to the National Museum. In this fine pastel portrait made by Gustaf Lundberg, the Swedish Rococo is nicely represented.

Estimate 100 000 – 125 000 SEK / 9 794 - 12 243 EUR

To the work of art

515. Pieter Claesz, circle of, "Still life with fish, crab, oysters and jars"

This magnificent still life with fish, oysters and a crab has been painted by someone in the circle around the Dutch artist Pieter Claesz. It is not impossible that he himself painted certain parts of it. The glitter in fish scales and mugs has a fantastic sharpness, and the marks on the knife's edge is a lovely detail.
This amazing still life is a personal favourite of mine. I think it is worthy of any kitchen or dining room!

Estimate 30 000 - 40 000 SEK / 2 938 - 3 918 EUR

To the work of art