KOLLER VIEW 4/23

Light of the lagoon city This view of Venice with San Giorgio Maggiore and a gondola is one of the outstanding paintings in the oeuvre of Ivan Aivazovsky, who caused a sensation as a marine painter in the second half of the 19 th century. Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky. View of Venice, San Giorgio Maggiore. 1851. Oil on canvas. 99.5 × 142 cm. Sold for CHF 1 million. Italian maiolica Maiolica vessels from the Renaissance, such as this albarello from southern Italy, were used in pharma- cies. Their origins go back to southern Spain, to the period of Spanish-Moorish rule. Maiolica albarello ‘a penne di pavone’. Probably Naples, 16 th century. H 32 cm. Sold for CHF 15 000 Madonna painter This panel with Saint Luke drawing the Virgin Mary on a sheet of paper was probably part of a diptych for personal devotion. The manner of depiction – concentrated and at the same time contemplative – emphasises the intimate character of the work. Studio of Rogier van der Weyden. Saint Luke sketching the Madonna. Oil on panel. 40.3 × 30.3 cm. Sold for CHF 300 000 21 Christ in miniature The extremely fine micro-carvings of this wooden cross show vari- ous scenes from the life of Christ, set in small rooms that together resemble a house. The wooden cross is crowned by a stylised peli- can feeding its young. Cross with fine micro-carving. Greek, probably 17 th /18 th century. H 46 cm. Sold for CHF 75 000 Resisting temptation This rediscovered painting shows Saint Anthony in meditation, resisting numerous temptations by demons. Antwerp, circa 1600. The temptation of Saint Anthony. Oil on panel. 36.5 × 51.3 cm. Sold for CHF 100 000