Italian neoclassical painter Fabio Fabbi (1861-1946) – recognised as the last of the Orientalists – scooped the pool with his work entitled Egyptian Street Scene (lot 47) which sold for $80,000 ($30,000 above its high catalogue estimate) at Melbourne-based Gibson’s Auctions Australian & International art sale on April 16.
Born in Bologna and trained at Florence’s Academy of Fine Art, in 1866 Fabbi journeyed to Egypt to join his brother Alberto where he...