Fans Of Fine Art Auction Have Another Night For “Power Bids”

By Thomas Leturgey

As a way of celebrating its 19th anniversary, the Fine Art Auction has added a fifth night to its celebration of Dali, Matisse and Warhol.

On Thursday night, June 5 at 7:00 p.m., Leif Rydfors and Nino Baretta introduced an audience of what had been expecting Collectable Coins to a Marc Chagall framed lithograph. Flush with “Chagallian Blue,” the painting titled “Echo” sold in the first 20 minutes of the program.

The Swedish Rydfors, who speaks seven languages, brings a certain “European Sophistication” to the program, says Mark Bronson, the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Fitzhugh Holdings, LLC, the Fine Art Auction’s parent company.

Bronson says Rydfors and Baretta “have good chemistry.” Baretta says that the two haven’t known each other for very long but are good friends.

The “new” show is the same as the other Friday-through-Monday “must see” shows for devotees of Fine Art.

It’s a good opportunity for growth, added Bronson. He says traditionally Tuesday and Thursdays are the best prime time nights for network television viewing and having a chance to grow the brand is extraordinary.

Bronson says discussions to add the fifth night have been going on for a while, but the official Thursday offering was promoted via email to all on their subscription list.

Thursday’s show promised Maurice De Vlaminck, a European Master that Rydfors was excited to present. Two works—Le Berge and Plaisance—from 1951 sold to a buyer from Oregon.

The Fine Art Auction buying audience is exceptional, said senior host Ray Taylor while on vacation. They are loyal and not the elite upper crust that some may think when the subject of “Fine Art” comes up. Their purchasing power does come in ebbs and flows, but it always keeps the business hoping, according to Taylor.

Taylor is expected back on Friday. Host Richard English has been working with Rydfors, Baretta and Mitch Carter. Gone are host Richard English’s “Monday Madness” shows where he and Carter zip through auctions at a faster pace than the other nights, which can sometimes see works shown for more than 20 minutes.

All of the hosts are armed with a plethora of knowledge about the artists and their works. That won’t change. They look for “Power Bids” that quickly raise bid prices up from, say $250 to $500 with a nod from the telephone.

Thursday had the usual “full catalog” of exquisite works, including works from Zero Gradient, and de Goya just to list two.

“There will be new artists we will see,” said Bronson. “A plethora of new artists.”