Crescent City Auction Gallery

One of New Orleans' premier fine arts and antiques auctioneers is hosting an auction this month featuring two extremely rare oil on canvas paintings by Mexican-born Louisiana artist José Francisco Xavier de Salazar y Mendoza (1750–1802). During the Spanish administration (1762–1802), he spent eighteen years painting portraits in the Crescent City. He is recognized as North America's only known 18th century Spanish colonial portraitist, with fewer than 50 documented works. Last year, his work was featured in an exhibition at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art called Salazar: Portraits of Influence in Spanish Louisiana. 

The first painting, slated to be sold on lot #330 on Day 1, was painted in New Orleans to depict Mattias Francisco y Ruiz (1750–1812)—a member of the Caribiner Calvary and the Financial Administrator of New Orleans under Spanish rule. 

The second, to be offered immediately following, was paintined in New Orleans circa 1785–1795, and is a bit of a mystery. Experts claim that it is either Marguerite Amirault Duplessis Alpuente y Ruiz (1761–1790) and son Francisco Bonaventure Alpuente y Ruiz (1783–1842) or Isabel Henriette de Chouriac de Alpuente y Ruiz (1773–1850) and Child. 

Also featured at the Crescent City Auction will be fine period French furniture and antique French clocks, original artworks by Louisiana artists, silver, and estate jewelry.

Previews for the auction will be held on Thursday, January 10 from 10 am to 5 pm and January 16 from 5 pm to 7 pm. 

For more information, please visit crescentcityauctiongallery.com