Sotheby’s announces the sale of a unseen Joaquin Sorolla, The Baptism, in it’s June 2nd London sale:

From Sotheby’s press release:

Remarkably, The Baptism has always remained in the same family that commissioned the work 110 years ago. It has never been exhibited in public before and carries an estimate of £700,000-1,000,000 (€ 800,000 – 1,140,000). Also by Sorolla is the seascape from 1899, Día de Tempestad (Approaching Storm) valued at £150,000-200,000 (€ 171,000 – 228,000).

Adrian Biddell, Senior Director of the 19th Century European Paintings Department and responsible for the recordbreaking sale of Sorolla’s La hora del baño for £3.7 million in 2003, says: “In spite of the financial challenges within the 12 months from November 2008 to November 2009, we have sold four works by Sorolla for a total of £6.9 million, with a low estimate of £4.8 million. Three of the four works have sold over their high estimate, representing 95% of the artist’s market during this period.”

Sorolla & Spanish Press Release June2010