The first sale of the year in Durán Auctions did not meet expectations. Although it began well, thanks to several Spanish Old Master lots from the seventeenth century, which started in the majority of cases under 300 euros. Highlights included the bid for the Penitent St. Jerome of sober execution and tones, which started in 550 euros and sold for 1.600 euros. 

But as soon as the starting prices started to rise, the interest of buyers sunk below sea level, and more than 75 per cent of paintings in the sale did not find a buyer (93 of the 122 offered). Even the star of the sale went unsold, the Adoration of the Magi by José Risueño, the artist's greatest canvas and never before seen in the market, which started in 25.000 euros. The same fortune was shared by Betsabe's bath a canvas by the Baroque painter Dirk Van Der Lisse, which started in 9.500 euros.

If things turned ugly for old masters, traditionally a secure commodity in the marketplace, much worse were the results for twentieth and nineteenth century works. Horsemen resting by Baldomero Galofre y Giménez, cover of this month's auction catalogue, which started at 20.000 euros, went unsold. The portrait painted by José Gutiérrez de la Vega in 1858 of his nephew with the same name, a congressman of the period, also failed to attract bids (7.000 euros starting price).

The only ones to survive were José Jiménez Aranda's watercolor Looking at the sea which sold for its starting price (4.000 euros) and a marine scene by Eliseo Meifrén sold for 2.000 euros (exceeding its starting price in 500 euros). A word aside deserves the sale of drawings by Antonio Mingote, published in the fifties in the Comical magazine Don José. Although they did not grow into the sky, only reaching 375 euros (35 euros above their starting price), they were one of the few works buyers bid for.

It was necessary to wait for lot 177 to witness the only battle in the salesroom. It was not for a painting, but for something much more reliable in todays world: gold. Two collectors faught for a Montblanc fountain pen, a limited edition of 100 units in honor of Salvador Dalí, made from yellow and white gold of 18 carrats. It started in 5.000 euros and was sold for 8.500 euros, which made it the highest hammer price and bid of the entire sale. Pablo Ortiz de Zárate

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