Auction house buys art advisers in surprise $85m deal

Middle market helps deliver auction house’s second highest results in 250-year history

All eyes are on Gentileschi’s $25m Danaë, but some other works deserve collectors’ attention too

President Tad Smith reveals that the auction house expects to lose between $10m to $19m in the fourth quarter due to sale guarantees for the former owner’s art

Auction is latest in a raft of exhibitions and sales to promote women artists

The institution will receive some proceeds from the sale of Old Master paintings that belonged to the late patron

French press partners pull out of sale “in the name of freedom of expression” following lobbying from Israeli embassy

Abstract work is top lot in Sotheby’s London evening sale next month

Founders of Art Agency, Partners will head up new department, along with Marc Porter, former Americas chairman at Christie’s

But the work is still owned by Tony Shafrazi two months later

Former prime minister’s belongings attract bidders from 41 countries

Glafira Rosales’s name was not mentioned in connection with the auctions, which included pieces by Sean Scully, Kenneth Noland, Jules Olitski, Louise Lawler, Andy Warhol and Ad Reinhardt

The voluntary programme will cost the auction house around $40m after shaky sale season

Before working at the auction house for 16 years, he had a long and distinguished career as a curator at national museums

Work from Hans Holbein’s studio was a highlight of London’s sale season

Collection valued at more than $15m was used to launder money, Attorney’s Office says

Auction totals continue dropping but the number of lots sold go up

While the frantic pace continues in early December, with visitors flocking to Art Basel in Miami Beach and its many satellite fairs, some taking of stock seems in order