Adam WilliamsBy Judd Tully
Published: June 1, 2009
 
Courtesy Adam Williams Fine Art Ltd., New York
Adam Williams
Courtesy Adam Williams Fine Art Ltd.
Cima da Conegliano's "Madonna and Child in a Landscape" (ca. 1496-99)
15th- to mid-19th-century European paintings What was your top earner of the season? In October we sold, in association with our colleague Fabrizio Moretti, Cima da Conegliano’s circa 1496 Madonna and Child to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The price was in the seven figures. We also sold a David with the head of Goliath by Guido Cagnacci to the Getty in the same price range. I sell more than 50 percent of my pictures to museums. The Pierre Subleyras Portrait of Pope Benedict XIV that I bought at Sotheby’s in January [$986,500; est. $100-150,000] was purchased by the Metropolitan Museum, in New York. Why would the Met acquire a painting by a relatively little-known artist? Because the picture was of outstandingly fine quality and in outstanding condition, and everybody wanted it. It went way beyond what the subject was. Who the hell wants an old pope? But the picture is just mesmerizing. What was the sleeper picture of the season? Johnny Van Haeften sold a beautiful Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder floral still life on copper. It came from a Swiss collection. What should have sold from your inventory that’s still available? I have an absolute masterpiece by the Dutch-Flemish painter Osias Beert, Still Life with Oysters, circa 1610, which we bought privately and which is in perfect condition. It’s priced at around $3 million. What should a collector consider when buying a work? It’s better to buy a top picture by a lesser artist than a mediocre picture by a great one. "Adam Williams" originally appeared in the June 2009 issue of Art+Auction. For a complete list of articles from this issue available on ARTINFO, see Art+Auction's June 2009 Table of Contents.
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