European Fine Art Fair in Maastricht: Zenith of Art Fairs, Pharaoh’s Red Sea Folly, by Titian, Stars

The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) in Maastricht is the zenith of art fairs in quality, prestige, and cachet. Starting on March 7 and continuing this week, 270 high-end dealers gathered to offer their best to a crowd — TEFAF estimates that about 55,000 will attend — of serious, rich collectors, museum curators and directors, the art-curious, and at least one on-his-toes, eyes-peeled, beagle-nosed art critic. It’s a connoisseur’s fair but one where billions of dollars in art are ripe for the pickings.

I’ll write today about what I like the most about TEFAF’s art. The fair’s calling card is the fresh-to-the-market, leg-tingling, newly discovered, best-of-its-kind treasure. Often — but not always – these treasures are small enough to have been tucked away for centuries, though Titian’s Submersion of Pharaoh’s Army in the Red Sea, from 1514–16, is close to eight feet wide and four feet tall. Offered by David Tunick, this monumental woodcut of a cataclysmic scene does come in twelve sheets, so, while humongous, it’s actually compact if not assembled.

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Brian T. Allen

Brian T. Allen is National Review’s art critic.

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The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) in Maastricht is the zenith of art fairs in quality, prestige, and cachet. Starting on March 7 and continuing this week, 270 high-end dealers gathered to offer their best to a crowd — TEFAF estimates that about 55,000 will attend — of serious, rich collectors, museum curators and directors, the art-curious, and at least one on-his-toes, eyes-peeled, beagle-nosed art critic. It’s a connoisseur’s fair but one where billions of dollars in art are ripe for the pickings.

I’ll write today about what I like the most about TEFAF’s art. The fair’s calling card is the fresh-to-the-market, leg-tingling, newly discovered, best-of-its-kind treasure. Often — but not always – these treasures are small enough to have been tucked away for centuries, though Titian’s Submersion of Pharaoh’s Army in the Red Sea, from 1514–16, is close to eight feet wide and four feet tall. Offered by David Tunick, this monumental woodcut of a cataclysmic scene does come in twelve sheets, so, while humongous, it’s actually compact if not assembled.