DALLAS — Heritage Auction’s December 7 Fine European Art Auction saw 69 lots, including some uniquely uncovered items, collectively realize a total of $921,938 with more than 85 percent of the lots sold. More than 350 people bid on a variety of works from a collection of Nineteenth Century European genre paintings to a selection of Dürer and Rembrandt prints. Highlighting the auction was “St John the Baptist,” half length by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (Italian, 1591-1666) better known as Guercino. Previously unpublished but with provenance to Burt Metcalfe, the Canadian born producer of the hit television series M*A*S*H, this pen and ink drawing, circa 1640s-50s, outperformed other offerings achieving $275,000 with buyer’s premium. A more comprehensive review of the Fine European Art auction will run in a forthcoming issue.”
