2023-06-12 05:07:56
Nikolaus Harnoncourt died seven years ago, his wife Alice the previous year. Part of the art collection of the founders of the Concentus Musicus Wien is now being auctioned in London. Starting June 30, Christie’s auction house is offering 50 selected works from the couple’s collection in an online auction under the title “Artists Collecting Art”, including sculptures from the early 15th century, books and manuscripts.
Part of the collection will also be auctioned off on July 6 as part of the “Old Masters” auction, including the oil sketch “Ecce Homo” by Peter Paul Rubens with an estimated value of 690,000 to 920,000 euros. The oil sketch “The Rape of Europa” by Jacob Jordaens is estimated at up to 570,000 euros. The books and manuscripts also include a first edition of Beethoven’s 9th symphony (estimate: up to 23,000 euros).
“My parents bought art objects that inspired them and that they wanted to live with,” Elisabeth von Magnus, their daughter, said in the announcement. “They weren’t just collectors, they bought art that they found—like the music they dealt with—so important and fascinating that it was worth studying and rediscovering over and over once more.”
Nikolaus Harnoncourt (1929-2016) founded the Concentus Musicus Wien together with his wife, the violinist Alice Harnoncourt (1930-2022). Both were fascinated by early music, the study of the original performance practice of Renaissance and Baroque music and the idea of making music on historical musical instruments. With their Concentus Musicus, founded in 1953, they revolutionized the understanding of early music.
(S E R V I C E – www.christies.com/)
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