Art history is a never ending series of mysteries, successes and mistakes, but the stories of those who have contributed to its inmortality here on earth are, in some cases, terribly sad. This being the case, the Madrid auction has been chosen to liquidate the legacy of Manuel López Almagro, who, in this case, can be accused of being excesively ambitious in his generosity.

The Alicante collector gathered throughout more than three decades more than 1.000 pieces of antiques and paintings of different quality and from different periods. Manuel collected "only what I like", without following any special guidelines or criteria. He acquired only what he thought to be beautiful and the eclectic array of works was donated upon his death in 2006 to the Museum of Fine Arts Alicante, which after four long years decided on retruning the generous donation due to the lack of exhibition space. Now the executors of his will are carrying out his second wish: sell the works and donate the profit to the Spanish Red Cross. 

And that is how part of Mr. López Almagro's collection arrived at the Madrid bidding room this December. But in spite of the undoubtedly noble mission the Red Cross will fufill with those funds, it will be sad to acknowledge how Don Manuel's legacy is liquidated for a sum below its true value, and that in spite of being sold through one of the most respectables sales rooms in Spain. But the thruth is the Spanish art market this Christmas is far from what it was in 2006. 

Still there is room for hope or at least it seems there is at Alcalá Auctions, which on this occassion has bet on Contemporary art. The well known silkscreens by Chillida will welcome bidders the 30th of November, followed by those by Tapiés, Millares and Miró. De los Espejos by José María Sicilia starts off at 27.500 euros, meanwhile 5 x 5 by Luis Gordillo will do so in 7.000 euros. Foreigners such as Massimo Vitali or Francis Bacon are also included togetehr with the less known Japanese artist Yasumasa Morimura present with her work An intimate dialogue with Frida Kahlo with a starting price of 10.000 euros.

Old master painting mixes different styles and periods this Christmas with a pair of Orientalist scenes attributed to the Spanish nineteenth century school and with the initials J.N.S inscribed on the back starting at 3.000 euros and a pair of Still Lifes with flowers by José María Murillo starting at 18.000 euros. An excellent portrait by José Gutiérrez de la Vega from the collection of the duke of Andria has a starting price of 12.000 euros and an excellent portrait of Lady Josephine Drummond, countess of Castelblanco by Federico de Madrazo has a starting price of 14.000 euros. An Annunciation attributed to Antonio Van de Pere has been granted an ambitious starting price of 7.000 euros, while the majestic composition of Salome and thequeen of Sheba by Simon Vos starts off at 30.000 euros and a pair of wreaths by Pier Francesco Cittadini will strat at 40.000 euros.    

The portrait of the first count of La Cañada by the painter recently rediscovered and studied by José de la Mano in his latest catalogue, Mariano Salvador Maella, has a starting price of 25.000 euros and a Still Life with pears and plums attributed to Pedro Camprobín will start off in 15.000 euros.

At last decorative arts provide us with a magnificent sculpture of Saint John the Baptist Child attributed to Risueño and an important Italian table top of polychromed Scagliola from the eighteenth century starts at 12.000 euros. And to conmemorate the festivities in the best possible fashion Alcalá Auctions will put on the auction block a 20 figure eighteenth century Neapolitian Naitivty scene.  Alfonso Carbajo Agrasar  

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