Jean-Luc Baroni

Courtesy Jean-Luc Baroni Ltd., London

Jean-Luc Baroni

Federico Barocci Jacques-Louis David Giovanni Girolamo Savoldo Adam Williams New York: Old Master Paintings Bullish Bidders Risk Brings Rewards in Old Masters Sales LACMA Director Speaks Out on Deaccessioning

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What was your top sale of the season?

I had a major figurative drawing by Giovanni Girolamo Savoldo, an artist working in the north of Italy in the first half of the 16th century, at the time of Titian. The drawing was in marvelous condition and discovered by an Italian colleague of mine. After I acquired it from him, I sold it to a private collector for in excess of $500,000.

What was your top auction transaction of the year?

I bought a wonderful early oil sketch, in fabulous condition, by Federico Barocci, Head of Saint John the Evangelist, at Christie’s in January [$1.7 million; est. $400-600,000]. Everybody knew what it was, and I think it ought to have made much more

What is your best picture still unsold?

The very best things are gone, and I need to buy new ones.

What is your favorite recent discovery?

A Jacques-Louis David portrait of Général Baron Claude Marie Meunier, who was the artist’s son-in-law, that I bought from a Paris auction two years ago. It came from the family of the sitter and hadn’t been exhibited since 1910. It’s still unlined and retains the labels from that exhibition.

What advice do you give your clients?

Don’t let investment be a priority. You’ve got to love what you’re going to buy. Buy the best you can afford but not the most expensive, because otherwise you’d buy one work of art in your life, and that would be it. Never buy because it’s a bargain — that’s the worst thing you can do unless you know what you’re doing. Don’t try to be cleverer than the dealer. You may get lucky, but usually you’ll get something that’s not as good as you thought it was. Most important, never buy because of the name. If you’ve done all that, then you have a chance of doing well, but there’s no guarantee. Still, it’s better than buying a Ferrari.

"Jean-Luc Baroni" 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.