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The Morning Signal

July 10, 2026

THE LEAD

Christie's Old Masters Sale in London Sees £431,000 for Unknown Dutch Artist, Six Records Set

via TEFAF

On July 7, 2026, Christie's reported that an Old Masters auction held in London on June 30, 2026, saw a painting by an unknown 17th-century Dutch artist sell for £431,000 ($575,000), approximately four times its estimate. The work depicts two skulls and a note asking "Uter dominus, uter servus?" (Which is the master, which is the slave?). Andrew Fletcher, head of Christie's Old Masters department, noted a surge of interest in "the weird and wonderful." The same auction set records for six artists, including Sir Thomas Lawrence, whose portrait of the Duke of Wellington fetched £9.7 million.

Auction Result

The Number

€2.7M

across 5 auctions this week

Today's dispatch London (7) · New York (5) · Amsterdam (2) · Paris (2) · Madrid (2)

Market Snapshot

8 stories today | 1 auction result | 6 exhibitions opening

This week · 43 stories · 5 auctions (€2.7M aggregate) · 28 exhibitions opening · most-active city: London

Sale highlight: Sir Thomas Lawrence at Christie's — £431,000

Just Opened

Jul 10

Tate Modern Stages Yvonne Rainer Trio A Performances in Turbine Hall — Tate

By Region

Americas

Phillips Achieves 90% Sell-Through Rate in 230th Anniversary Year, 40% First-Time Buyers via Phillips

Europe

Serpentine Galleries Launches Park Nights 2026 with Performances by Sophia Stel, Chanel Beads, Ebun Sodipo, Shala Miller via Serpentine Galleries

Asia-Pacific

Leiko Ikemura Joins 'TOKYO ATLAS' Exhibition With Giant Sculpture via Lisson Gallery

Middle East & Africa

quiet today

Featured

Rijksmuseum's Willem de Kooning Exhibition Features Over 120 Works, Opens Oct 9

On July 8, 2026, the Rijksmuseum announced "Willem de Kooning at Work," a major exhibition centered on the artist's drawn works, running from October 9, 2026, through January 17, 2027. The show…

via Rijksmuseum · Exhibition

Dior Haute Couture FW 26/27 Draws on Lynda Benglis Sculpture and Indian Craft

On July 6, 2026, Dior published details of its Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2026/27 collection, designed by Jonathan Anderson, which takes inspiration from the work of American artist Lynda Benglis. The…

via Pace Gallery · Exhibition

This Week Ahead

Tomorrow

Florentina Holzinger to Stage One-Night Performance at Bregenz Lakeside as Biennale Satellite via Thaddaeus Ropac

Sun Jul 12

Lisson Gallery and Absent Gallery Exchange Spaces for Summer Exhibitions in Guangzhou and Shanghai via Lisson Gallery

Sun Jul 12

Galleria Continua Presents Moataz Nasr Group Exhibition in Venice and Murano via Galleria Continua

Wed Jul 15

Tate Modern to Stage UK’s First Major Ana Mendieta Exhibition in Over a Decade via Tate

Thu Jul 16

Museo La Tertulia Schedules Solo Exhibition in Cali, Artist Unspecified via Galleria Continua

Fri Jul 17

Hauser & Wirth Artist Glenn Ligon Partners with Artistic Noise for Youth Self-Portrait Project via Hauser & Wirth

Fri Jul 17

Zhanna Kadyrova Group Exhibition 'Pietre di pane' Opens July 17 at Galleria Civica di Trento via Galleria Continua

Fri Jul 17

Daniel Buren Solo Exhibition Opens July 17 at Musée des Impressionismes Giverny via Galleria Continua

Full calendar →

Next Week

Thu Jul 23

Galleria Continua Presents 'Villa Marigola' Solo Show at Lerici Music Festival via Galleria Continua

Fri Jul 24

Monster Chetwynd's 'A Feather in your Hat!' Opens at Estonia National Museum on July 24, 2026 via Sadie Coles HQ

Fri Jul 24

MoMA PS1 Announces Precious Okoyomon's Largest Outdoor Installation, Opening July 24 via MoMA

Artist Spotlight

Wolfgang Tillmans · 3 mentions this week

Wolfgang Tillmans is a German photographer recognized for his diverse body of work that documents contemporary life and investigates the fundamental properties of the photographic medium.

Read profile →

The Wire

1.

Serpentine Galleries Launches Park Nights 2026 with Performances by Sophia Stel, Chanel Beads, Ebun Sodipo, Shala Miller — Serpentine Galleries

2.

Thaddaeus Ropac Pantin Hosts Anselm Kiefer's 'Nymphäum' Exhibition — Thaddaeus Ropac

3.

Matthew Barney's 'ZONE DEFENSE: Old Snowmass Parallax' to Debut at AIR 2026 in Aspen — Sadie Coles HQ

4.

ARCO Madrid Opens Call for Guest Lounge Design, Offers €1,500 Grants — ARCO Madrid

5.

Sadie Coles HQ: Swiss Institute's 40th Anniversary 'Regift' Exhibition in Zurich — Sadie Coles HQ

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