Preamble: A Sensitive Appreciation Of Beauty And The Arts

Once you’re inside the auction house, complete part of the Main Quest (Open Sesame) objective “Meet Vivaldi’s friends (3).” Walk over to the wall of paintings, which is being admired by the hoity-toity art dealer Yaromir. He has a disdain in his voice, and looks down his long nose at the likes of you. Before chatting to him, you may want to further your art appreciation by memorizing the paintings on the wall.

Start your chat with Yaromir, and tell him you have “a bit” of knowledge about art. Yaromir takes this as an opportunity to embarrass both you and the dwarf, and asks you to point out which painting is by Edward van der Knoob, the master from Maribor.

Indicate the portrait of the merchant, and Yaromir is taken aback, asks for a brief word in private, and apologises for his impertinence. He tells you a secret; there’s a van Rogh in the forthcoming auction. Though this painter is a virtual unknown, the bookseller Marcus Hodgson is a fierce admirer. Buy the painting at auction, and you might sell it at a good profit, perchance? If you can trust that Hodgson, of course. This begins Secondary Quest: Avid Collector.

After this information has been imparted, Vimme asks you what that chat was all about. You can:

Tell him you were told to buy the van Rogh. This causes the dwarf to bid for the painting in the auction, forcing you to purchase it at a higher price if you want it.

Tell him “nothin’ special,” and the dwarf is none-the-wiser (and you can purchase the van Rogh for a song).

PREAMBLE (AUCTION): “STARRY NIGHT OVER THE PONTAR”

Continue to complete objectives associated with Main Quest: Open Sesame, until the auction begins. Second on the auction block is a charming piece by a young Novigrad artist named van Rogh. Bidding starts at only 20 crowns. You must either:

• Bid on it, after not previously mentioning its value to Vivaldi, and snap up the piece for its starting bid of 20 crowns. A veritable bargain!
• Bid on it, after mentioning its value to Vivaldi, who wants it for his own collection, bringing up the price you’ll pay to 60 crowns. Still, a reasonable sum!

If this painting is won, Hearts of Stone Secondary Quest: The Avid Collector continues.