Joseph Emanuel Weiser, German 1847-1911- Those Fatal Tips; oil on panel, signed 'Jos. Weiser' (lower left), 41.5 x 29.2 cm. Provenance: Property from a European Private Collection. Note: The present work is typical of Weiser, who appears to have had a clear preference for genre scenes featuring figures in elaborate historical dress. The artist manages to convincingly evoke a variety of textures with a sparing use of brushstrokes, including the rich fabric and shining buttons of the figures' coats, and the gleaming coin which the departing gentleman places somewhat disdainfully in the hand of the bowing figure to the left of the composition. Weiser was a member of the Munich School, and his works bear the influence of his teacher, Wilhelm von Diez (1839-1907), who also largely produced historical, mythological, and allegorical scenes.

Composed of several subsidiaries, the Drouot Group is a major player in the art market. Hôtel Drouot, located in the heart of Paris, has been the world's largest public auction center since 1852. 15 salerooms are available to more than 70 auction houses. The emulation generated by an annual offer of 230,000 artworks from 21 major specialities - from Antiquity to street art - attracts some 3,000 visitors every day. The Group's digital platform, Drouot.com, offers digital sales - Live auctions (live broadcasting and participation in auctions), Online-only auctions (dematerialised auctions) and Buy Now sales (sales of lots at fixed prices). Nearly 2 million items are offered annually by 600 auction houses. Auction news is reported every week in La Gazette Drouot, the leading weekly magazine for the art market and culture published by Auctionspress.