Jean-Antoine Watteau - La Surprise: A couple embracing while a figure dressed as Mezzetin tunes a guitar

Jean-Antoine Watteau

La Surprise: A couple embracing while a figure dressed as Mezzetin tunes a guitar

Found at Christies, London
Important Old Master & British PicturesEvening Sale, Lot 21
8. Jul - 8. Jul 2008
Estimate: XX.XXX
Price realised: XX.XXX
Jean-Antoine Watteau (Valenciennes 1684-1721)
La Surprise: A couple embracing while a figure dressed as Mezzetin tunes a guitar
oil on panel
14½ x 11½ in. (36.3 x 28.2 cm.)

A top price for Jean-Antoine Watteau

This artwork by Jean-Antoine Watteau achieved an unexpectedly high price at Christies in London in July 2008. In the Important Old Master & British PicturesEvening Sale auction, the work La Surprise: A couple embracing while a figure dressed as Mezzetin tunes a guitar sold for GBP 12,361,250.00 (€ 15,705,107.29) - well above the upper estimate of GBP 5,000,000.00. This high result makes La Surprise: A couple embracing while a figure dressed as Mezzetin tunes a guitar the most expensive artwork by Jean-Antoine Watteau that we have observed at auctions so far.

Ein Spitzenpreis für Jean-Antoine Watteau

Dieses Kunstwerk von Jean-Antoine Watteau erzielte im Juli 2008 bei Christies in London einen unerwartet hohen Preis. In der Auktion Important Old Master & British PicturesEvening Sale wurde die Arbeit La Surprise: A couple embracing while a figure dressed as Mezzetin tunes a guitar für GBP 12.361.250,00 (€ 15.705.107,29) versteigert – und damit weit über dem oberen Schätzpreis von GBP 5.000.000,00. Dieses hohe Ergebnis macht La Surprise: A couple embracing while a figure dressed as Mezzetin tunes a guitar zu dem teuersten Kunstwerk von Jean-Antoine Watteau, das wir bisher bei Auktionen beobachtet haben.

Other artists in this auction

Guido Reni - Christ Crowned with Thorns
Guido Reni
Auction: 8. Jul - 8. Jul 2008
Title: Christ Crowned with Thorns
Price: XX.XXX
Found at Christies
54 auction results
Lavinia Fontana - Portrait of a lady, half-length, in an embroidered gown and white collar, with a dog
Lavinia Fontana
Auction: 8. Jul - 8. Jul 2008
Title: Portrait of a lady, half-length, in an embroidered gown and white collar, with a dog
Price: XX.XXX
Found at Christies
19 auction results
Ventura Salimbeni - The Madonna and Child with the martyred Saint Cecilia and infant angels
Ventura Salimbeni
Auction: 8. Jul - 8. Jul 2008
Title: The Madonna and Child with the martyred Saint Cecilia and infant angels
Price: XX.XXX
Found at Christies
13 auction results
Sir Thomas Lawrence, P.R.A. - Portrait of Frederick William Stewart, 4th Marquess of Londonderry, K.P., M.P. (1805-1872), when a boy, half-length, in a red coat, in a feigned oval
Sir Thomas Lawrence, P.R.A.
Auction: 8. Jul - 8. Jul 2008
Title: Portrait of Frederick William Stewart, 4th Marquess of Londonderry, K.P., M.P. (1805-1872), when a boy, half-length, in a red coat, in a feigned oval
Price: XX.XXX
Found at Christies
136 auction results
Jacob Jordaens - Portrait of a young man, half-length, in black doublet and cloak with white collar and sleeves, holding a pair of gloves, a parrot on a parapet beside him
Jacob Jordaens
Auction: 8. Jul - 8. Jul 2008
Title: Portrait of a young man, half-length, in black doublet and cloak with white collar and sleeves, holding a pair of gloves, a parrot on a parapet beside him
Price: XX.XXX
Found at Christies
83 auction results
Jan Breughel I - A forest landscape with hunters giving chase to a stag
Jan Breughel I
Auction: 8. Jul - 8. Jul 2008
Title: A forest landscape with hunters giving chase to a stag
Price: XX.XXX
Found at Christies
53 auction results
Jan Van Kessel - Roses, tulips, an iris and other flowers, in a glass vase on a stone plinth, with butterflies and other insects
Jan Van Kessel
Auction: 8. Jul - 8. Jul 2008
Title: Roses, tulips, an iris and other flowers, in a glass vase on a stone plinth, with butterflies and other insects
Price: XX.XXX
Found at Christies
34 auction results
Jan Steen - An amorous couple in a landscape
Jan Steen
Auction: 8. Jul - 8. Jul 2008
Title: An amorous couple in a landscape
Price: XX.XXX
Found at Christies
52 auction results
Ambrosius Bosschaert II - Peaches, grapes, a pear, and white currants in a wan-li kraak porcelain dish, with shells, a lizard and a butterfly on a ledge
Ambrosius Bosschaert II
Auction: 8. Jul - 8. Jul 2008
Title: Peaches, grapes, a pear, and white currants in a wan-li kraak porcelain dish, with shells, a lizard and a butterfly on a ledge
Price: XX.XXX
Found at Christies
16 auction results
Cornelis De Heem - A cut melon, cherries, gooseberries, peaches, grapes, figs, plums, flowers, snails and insects on a stone ledge
Cornelis De Heem
Auction: 8. Jul - 8. Jul 2008
Title: A cut melon, cherries, gooseberries, peaches, grapes, figs, plums, flowers, snails and insects on a stone ledge
Price: XX.XXX
Found at Christies
37 auction results
Gaspar Van Wittel - Naples from the Sea, looking North East towards the Castel dell\'Ovo, with the Castel Sant\'Elmo and the Certosa di San Martino beyond; and The Darsena, Naples, with the Castel Nuovo and the Castel Sant\'Elmo beyond.
Gaspar Van Wittel
Auction: 8. Jul - 8. Jul 2008
Title: Naples from the Sea, looking North East towards the Castel dell'Ovo, with the Castel Sant'Elmo and the Certosa di San Martino beyond; and The Darsena, Naples, with the Castel Nuovo and the Castel Sant'Elmo beyond.
Price: XX.XXX
Found at Christies
67 auction results
Gregorio De\' Ferrari - The Rest on the Flight to Egypt
Gregorio De' Ferrari
Auction: 8. Jul - 8. Jul 2008
Title: The Rest on the Flight to Egypt
Price: XX.XXX
Found at Christies
7 auction results
Johann Georg Platzer - The Amazon Queen, Thalestris, in the camp of Alexander the Great
Johann Georg Platzer
Auction: 8. Jul - 8. Jul 2008
Title: The Amazon Queen, Thalestris, in the camp of Alexander the Great
Price: XX.XXX
Found at Christies
17 auction results
William Blake - The Flight into Egypt
William Blake
Auction: 8. Jul - 8. Jul 2008
Title: The Flight into Egypt
Price: XX.XXX
Found at Christies
54 auction results
Neri Di Bicci - The Martyrdom of Saint Januarius: panel from a predella
Neri Di Bicci
Auction: 8. Jul - 8. Jul 2008
Title: The Martyrdom of Saint Januarius: panel from a predella
Price: XX.XXX
Found at Christies
23 auction results
William Larkin - Portrait of lady, probably Lady Thornhagh, three-quarter-length, in an embroidered bodice and an embroidered dress, with a pale yellow lace collar, and a blue and red mantle over her left shoulder, beside a table, flanked by draped curtains
William Larkin
Auction: 8. Jul - 8. Jul 2008
Title: Portrait of lady, probably Lady Thornhagh, three-quarter-length, in an embroidered bodice and an embroidered dress, with a pale yellow lace collar, and a blue and red mantle over her left shoulder, beside a table, flanked by draped curtains
Price: XX.XXX
Found at Christies
3 auction results
Jan Josefsz. Van Goyen - A view of the Maas with Dordrecht beyond
Jan Josefsz. Van Goyen
Auction: 8. Jul - 8. Jul 2008
Title: A view of the Maas with Dordrecht beyond
Price: XX.XXX
Found at Christies
349 auction results
Lieve Pietersz. Verschuier - A harbour with a flute, a frigate firing a salute, a flute being careened and a States Yacht, with other shipping at sunset
Lieve Pietersz. Verschuier
Auction: 8. Jul - 8. Jul 2008
Title: A harbour with a flute, a frigate firing a salute, a flute being careened and a States Yacht, with other shipping at sunset
Price: XX.XXX
Found at Christies
10 auction results
Adriaen Pietersz. Van De Venne - Summer: A river landscape with elegant company desporting in a boat and on the banks, a castle beyond
Adriaen Pietersz. Van De Venne
Auction: 8. Jul - 8. Jul 2008
Title: Summer: A river landscape with elegant company desporting in a boat and on the banks, a castle beyond
Price: XX.XXX
Found at Christies
54 auction results
Cornelis Cornelisz. - Adonis; and Venus
Cornelis Cornelisz.
Auction: 8. Jul - 8. Jul 2008
Title: Adonis; and Venus
Price: XX.XXX
Found at Christies
33 auction results