W hat exactly makes a painting a masterpiece?
“Masterpiece” might be the most overused word in the art world — so who better to unpack what it really means than the specialists at Sotheby’s Old Masters Department?
We asked Sotheby’s leading art experts to unpack the term that’s used so often in the art world—but rarely explained. Their answers go beyond beauty or price tags, diving into technique, provenance, condition, and something more intangible: a sense of magic. At the heart of this conversation is The Collection of Jordan and Thomas A. Saunders III—one of the most important private collections of Old Masters to come to auction in recent years.
This isn't just an auction — it’s a journey through five hundred years of art history. With works spanning Renaissance Germany to Baroque Italy and Enlightenment-era England, these paintings tell stories of devotion, symbolism, and unmatched craftsmanship. Join us for an inside look at how experts evaluate these works, what drew the Saunders to each piece and why this collection is being hailed as one of the finest of its kind to ever come to market.
A selection of forty-three outstanding masterpieces are headed to auction in Elegance & Wonder: Masterpieces from the Collection of Jordan and Thomas A. Saunders III, held live at Sotheby’s New York on 21 May at 10:00 EDT.
