Fine Art Selection: Cambi’s Auction Dedicated to Old Master Art Returns to Milan

On May 20, 2026, Cambi Auction House presents in Milan the second edition of Fine Art Selection, the auction dedicated to Old Master art that last year marked the department’s Milan debut with significant success among collectors and the public.

The new edition confirms the project’s identity: a catalogue conceived as a journey through European taste, spanning centuries, schools, and artistic languages, from the Middle Ages to the 19th century and Neoclassicism.

A Journey Through Centuries of Art and Collecting

One of the most fascinating aspects of Fine Art Selection is the variety of works presented. Illuminated manuscripts, paintings, sculptures, furniture, bronzes, glassworks, clocks, and works of art engage in a continuous dialogue, offering a rich narrative of the evolution of European taste and decorative arts.

The catalogue opens with precious examples of Medieval and Renaissance art, including a refined 15th-century Book of Hours for the Use of Rouen, originating from Northern France or Flanders and embellished with miniatures, gilded initials, and richly decorated borders — an extraordinary testament to late Medieval manuscript production.

The Allure of the Baroque: Bronzes and Sculptures from the Bernini Circle

Among the most significant sections of the auction is the selection of Mannerist and Baroque sculptures and bronzes. A highlight is a large pair of 17th-century bronze putti attributed to a Roman foundry close to the circle of Gian Lorenzo Bernini. These works fully reflect the theatricality and dynamic tension of Baroque Rome.

But the true masterpiece of the sale is undoubtedly the Bust of Costanza Piccolomini Bonarelli, an extraordinary marble sculpture attributed to the Bernini circle and likely to Matteo Bonarelli. The work immediately recalls the famous bust of Costanza preserved at the Museo Nazionale del Bargello and currently on display in the exhibition “Bernini and the Barberini” at the Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica.

The modernity of the Berninian language emerges strongly in the rendering of the face, the naturalness of the expression, the softness of the surfaces, and the psychological intensity of the figure. A work that tells not only of 17th-century Rome, but also of the famous and tormented relationship between Costanza and Gian Lorenzo Bernini — muse and lover of the sculptor.

Hardstones, Cabinetry and Decorative Arts

The journey continues with a refined selection of hardstone and semi-precious stone works from the 17th and 18th centuries. Of particular note is a pair of tabletops attributed to the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, decorated with pietra dura inlays depicting birds, floral motifs, and vases of flowers, set on 19th-century mahogany consoles.

Also of great elegance is the octagonal casket with jasper plaques and gilt bronze mounts, a precious testament to 18th-century cabinetmaking.

Also worthy of attention is the group of 18th-century Venetian lacquered furnishings, which fully conveys the vibrant colour palette and decorative taste of Venice’s lagoon tradition.

Russian Art and Luxury Manufactures

Among the most compelling sections of the catalogue is the group dedicated to Russian art, featuring sacred silver icons from the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as important artefacts originating from Saint Petersburg.

Among these, a gold box and a late 19th-century gold cup bear witness to the excellence of the applied arts and the sumptuous taste of the Russian imperial court.

Old Master Painting Between Venice, Rome and Bologna

A wide section is devoted to European Old Master painting. Among the key works are Achilles Taken from the Palace of Lycomedes by Giovanni Paolo Panini, inspired by classical epic themes, and the refined Portrait of a Lady with Flowers by Rosalba Carriera, a splendid example of the great Venetian tradition of 18th-century pastel portraiture.

The catalogue also includes important works on paper, such as drawings of greyhounds by Giandomenico Tiepolo and The Vision of Saint Jerome by Guercino.

A Glimpse at the 19th Century

The 19th-century section presents a selection of paintings spanning different Italian schools. Particularly notable are the Sicilian views by Francesco Zerilli, one of the leading interpreters of 19th-century Sicilian vedutismo, alongside works by Federico Andreotti and Eugenio Zampighi.

With this second edition of Fine Art Selection, Cambi Casa d’Aste consolidates its Milan-based project dedicated to Old Master art, presenting a catalogue that combines quality, historical rigour, and a rich variety of collecting perspectives.