Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
Martin Wilson to succeed Ed Dolman as chief executive at Phillips
20 December 2024Executive chairman of Phillips Ed Dolman is standing down in 2025 and will be succeeded by Martin Wilson.
One to watch: Christie’s to offer Barry Humphries collection in 2025
19 December 2024One of the lesser known facts about the comedian, entertainer and TV personality Barry Humphries was his erudite art collecting.
Portrait shows mystery black bandsman who went into battle at Waterloo
16 December 2024An intriguing portrait of a black man in the uniform of a military bandsman and wearing a Waterloo medal drew strong competition after emerging at an auction in East Sussex.
Hechle takes to the hills and Glasgow auction sets a mountain high
16 December 2024A group of seven mountainous landscapes by Hilda Marion Hechle (1886-1939) were the subject of a good deal of interest at a recent sale at Great Western Auctions (24% buyer’s premium) in Glasgow.
Art market: Those were the London Dayes
16 December 2024Pair of scarce oils by an artist more familiar as a watercolourist emerge at auction in Essex
Lavery's Irish Treaty sketch sells to Dublin gallery at Bellmans
10 December 2024A signed study for a major work by Sir John Lavery (1856-1941) drew significant competition when it appeared at West Sussex auction house Bellmans (25% buyer’s premium).
Hepworth’s sculptural exploration of colour and strings barred from export
09 December 2024A unique sculpture by Dame Barbara Hepworth (1903-75) has been blocked from export following its sale at Christie’s in London earlier this year.
‘Wantage Botticelli’ sparks fervent bidding to lead Old Master series in London
09 December 2024The latest series of Old Master auctions in London looked a little thin with the evening sales comprising less than 30 lots, but the series was not without its highpoints.
Could it be artist Mary Beale by her own hand?
09 December 2024A bust-length study, thought to be a self-portrait by Mary Beale (1633-99) from the early 1660s, sold above estimate at a recent sale at Parker Fine Art Auctions (25% buyer’s premium).
It’s the turn of Grimshaw Junior to step into the moonlight
09 December 2024Son of the famous John Atkinson Grimshaw under focus with two of his own works in the same style
Botticelli Virgin and Child bid to £8.6m at Sotheby’s
05 December 2024A painting known as ‘the Wantage Botticelli’ which emerged from a British aristocratic collection after 120 years drew a strong bidding battle at Sotheby’s latest Old Master evening sale in London.
Van Dyck horse portrait tops Christie’s Old Master sale
04 December 2024An Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) equine painting led Christie’s latest evening sale of Old Masters in London.
Dod Procter portraits at the double indicate growing demand
04 December 2024Over the last decade, portraits from the 1920s by Dod Procter (1891-1972) have become increasingly valuable.
Barbara Hepworth sculpture from ‘pivotal moment’ in her career blocked from export
03 December 2024A unique sculpture by Dame Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975) has been blocked from export following its sale at Christie’s in London earlier this year.
Art collection saved from the flames (twice) comes to auction
02 December 2024More pieces appear from a collection that survived a couple of devastating blazes at the family home
Pether depicts a moonlit Venice
02 December 2024A trademark painting by Henry Pether (1800-80) attracted significant interest and sold for a solid price at Kinghams’ (25% buyer’s premium) latest Fine & Decorative Arts auction.
Ronner-Knip feline work is catnip to eager collectors
02 December 2024Pictures by the Dutch artist Henriette Ronner-Knip (1821- 1909) are pretty abundant on the market but the considerable popularity of her characterful feline studies means they are invariably a valuable proposition.
Cedric Morris’ apple painting finds plenty of appeal
29 November 2024While flower paintings by the artist-plantsman Sir Cedric Lockwood Morris (1889-1982) are now a familiar sight at auction and invariably a valuable proposition, his depictions of fruit and vegetables are equally interesting and vivid.
Museum’s fitting purchase for the ‘sport of kings’
25 November 2024The National Horseracing Museum (NHRM) in Newmarket has put on display a portrait of Charles II which it bought at auction this year.
Bilbao depicted before industrialisation
25 November 2024A large and historic view of Bilbao in Spain was among the lots bringing competition at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood (26% buyer’s premium) of Exeter.