Catawiki is expanding its offerings in the art collecting sector with the launch of its new Classical Art department, presented as part of the “Great Masters from Classic to Contemporary Art” auction, scheduled to take place online from July 24 to August 3. The initiative brings together five departments— Post-War and Contemporary Art, Prints and Editions, Photography, Works Direct from the Artist, and, for the first time, Classical Art—offering a journey through approximately five centuries of art history.
The main new feature of this edition is precisely this new section, which includes about 60 lots selected from landscapes, portraits, religious subjects, and interior scenes. The catalog features works ranging from the late Renaissance to the 19th century, with the aim of expanding the platform’s offerings in the field of historical paintings as well.
Among the most notable lots is *Cavalli* by Dario Fo (1926–2016), a rare example of the Nobel Prize in Literature laureate’s work as a painter. The work, created using mixed media on paper mounted on a wooden panel and preserved in its original period frame, comes from a private Italian collection. Exhibited in 2012 at the Palazzo Reale in Milan as part of the exhibition *Lazzi sberleffi e dipinti*, it is registered in the Dario Fo Archive and has an estimateranging from 3,900 to 4,300 euros.
Also featured is *L’amore tra i polli* by Giacomo Favretto (1849–1887), a signed watercolor on cardstock that serves as the preparatory sketch for the illustration published in*Illustrazione Italiana* on November 30, 1879. The estimate ranges from 1,800 to 2,200 euros.
Among the works of historical interest is also *Artillerymen and a Cannon*, attributed to Giovanni Fattori (1825–1908). This small, signed oil on panel, likely dating to 1876, is believed to be connected to the preparatory studies for *The Battle of Custoza* (1880), now housed at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome. Having been in the same family since 1937 and accompanied by original documentation, the painting has an estimate of 8,000–12,000 euros.
Rounding out the selection is *The Rape of Proserpina*, attributed to Jacopo Palma the Younger (1549–1628). The oil on canvas painting, previously attributed to Pordenone as indicated by the label on the original frame, is now attributed to the Tintoretto circle of the late 16th century. The work, which depicts the famous mythological episode narrated by Ovid, is estimated at between 5,000 and 6,000 euros.
The auction also includes four other sections curated by Catawiki experts. The Post-War and Contemporary Art section, curated by Giulia Couzzi, features approximately 85 lots and includes *Spatial Concept* by Lucio Fontana ( 1899–1968), ink and graphite on paper with holes and tears, registered with the Lucio Fontana Foundation under reference number 4639/1 and estimated at between 45,000 and 60,000 euros.
The Prints and Editions department, curated by Silvia Possanza, also features approximately 85 lots, including the linocut *Rippled Surface* (Lot 367) by Maurits Cornelis Escher, signed in pencil and dated 1950, with an estimate of 10,000–12,000 euros. In the Photography section, curated by Elena Vaninetti, the auction features Thomas Struth’s *Tokyo (suburb of Bunkyo) *, a 1999 C-print in a limited edition of 200 copies, accompanied by the book *Thomas Struth präsentiert Deutsche Stadtbaukunst der Gegenwart* and valued at 2,000–2,500 euros. Finally, in the “Direct from the Artist” department, curated by Maurizio Buquicchio, Santicri’s *Essence, Mondrian* stands out, accompanied by a hand-signed certificate of authenticity and estimated at between 3,000 and 3,600 euros.
With the introduction of the new Classical Art section, Catawiki is expanding its art market catalog, complementing its established sections with a selection of historical works accompanied by documentation on provenance and authenticity. The “Great Masters from Classic to Contemporary Art” auction will remain available on the platform through August 3.
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| Catawiki Expands Its Art Auctions: The Classical Art Department Is Launched |
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