6/5/14 - Discovery - Downington, Pennsylvania - Auction discoveries do not occur only at the Hôtel Drouot. Bendor Grosvenor, on his blog Art History News, points out the spectacular resurfacing of a drawing by Alessandro Allori in the United States. This is a preparatory work for the figure of Adam on the ceiling of the Montauto chapel in the basilica of the Santissima Annunziata (ill. 2).
1. Alessandro Allori (1535-1607)
Study for Adam
Black chalk - 42.5 x 28.6 cm
Sold by Pook & Pook
Photo : Pook & Pook
2. Alessandro Allori (1535-1607)
Adam and Eve
Fresco
Florence, Basilica della Santissima Annunziata
Photo : D. R. (domaine public)
The work was sold in Downington, Pennsylvania at an auction organized by Pook & Pook Inc. It was presented as being a work from the Bronzino school which is basically correct since Alessandro Allori was his adopted son and closest student. The estimate of $2,000 to $4,000 was however ludicrously low as the final bid for the drawing reached a high of $228,000 (before charges).
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