While the Institut Catholique, under pressure from the families of the donators (*), decided to withdraw a series of photographic studies by Giuseppe Enrie representing the Shroud of Turin from their prestigious sale on Sunday, Jesus made an appearance at the Photovintage fair.
By 7 AM, exhibitors were setting up, eyeing their neighbours stands, discovering vintage prints from across Europe and elsewhere. By 8 AM, before heading to their stands at Paris Photo, several dealers, including Hans Kraus Jr. and Johannes Faber, were combing the aisles. By 11 AM, a crowd of experts and curious onlookers had invested the arcades of Galerie Vivienne.
For most vintage photography professionals, this small event is one of the highlights of the year. It is the small miracle much awaited for. The dealers were delighted with this year’s edition. The visitors, more numerous than in 2012, discovered over fifty tables on which were displayed vintage prints from every period, of every kind, in which you could plunge your hands in hope of extracting a nugget.
Peter Galassi found a Harry Callahan. Denise Bethel (director of the photography department at Sotheby’s), who delayed her trip back to New York to come to Photovintage, was not dissapointed. “It reminds me of my beginnings, when I started getting involved in photography,” she confided, obviously moved.
Antoine Romand, expert at Ader, would not comment the Institut Catholique’s decision to cancel the sale of the Shroud of Turin prints. However, he did confirm that there were several order bids which largely covered the reserves. According to his estimate, the largest print sale could have reached 100,000 euros.
The best purchase of the day therefore, without contest, was the shrewd acquisition of a print similar to one from the lots that had been pulled out . Presented in its original frame, the photograph was the right size, the blind stamp signature authentic. The dealer, who assured me the transaction was performed in a very spiritual manner, would not reveal its price.
(*) The gifts were in fact inalienable.
