Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
Healthy harvest: Alfred Parsons bucolic views bring bidding at separate salerooms
12 August 2026Large views of the British countryside, garden paintings and botanical studies are the most popular works when it comes to Somerset-born Alfred Parsons (1847-1920).
House record for Batemans as Cadbury’s Conundrum egg brings spectacular bidding
11 August 2026A 22ct gold Cadbury’s Conundrum egg made a huge return for the vendor when it reappeared on the auction block this summer.
James Barry print represented unique buying opportunity at Forum Auctions
10 August 2026Due to the nature of dealing in multiples, where direct price precedents are available, prints are sometimes regarded as the most predictable area of the art market.
Alfred Wallis painting owned by potter Bernard Leach sails away at Lay’s
04 August 2026The exceptional provenance of a trademark Alfred Wallis (1855-1942) painting gave it a commercial boost when it appeared at Lay’s (21% buyer’s premium) latest sale of Cornish Art in Penzance.
Harold Gilman’s portrait of his mother quadruples estimate at Gorringe’s
03 August 2026If close personal connections between artist and sitter can raise the value of a portrait, then you might expect a picture by a celebrated artist of his mother to do rather well when offered on the market.
Harold and Laura Knight: A husband-and-wife duo with major saleroom presence
29 July 2026A portrait of the artist Laura Knight (1874-1970) by her husband Harold Knight (1874-1961) sounds like the kind of work always likely to generate interest at auction. And this is especially so if it happens to be previously unrecorded and offered with an inviting estimate.
Pitman mixed collection follows pictures auction
24 July 2026A collection of furniture, silver, works of art, carpets and books from the estate of artist John Singer Sargent’s grand-niece Jemima Pitman (1930-2025) will be offered at Chorley’s on September 15.
Why the John Singer Sargent market remains a trans-Atlantic affair
24 July 2026Artistically and commercially, John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) is a giant that straddles the Atlantic.
Peake takes highest price with Elizabethan portrait
24 July 2026A portrait by Robert Peake the Elder (c.1551-1619) was the top lot at the Bonhams (28/27% buyer’s premium) Old Master Paintings sale in London on July 1.
Gainsborough works reveal their face value
24 July 2026Two notable works by Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88) from different ends of his career drew contrasting levels of demand at separate summer auctions.
Old Masters find their moments
24 July 2026Latest auction results suggest the market is showing encouraging signs as new collectors emerge and others expand their horizons
Items from Sargent family collection consigned to Chorley’s
22 July 2026A collection of furniture, silver, works of art, carpets and books from the estate of artist John Singer Sargent’s grand-niece will be offered at Chorley’s on September 15.
Watercolour album of British birds by Welsh porcelain painter emerges in Cardiff sale
17 July 2026A rare 1804 album of 41 watercolours of British birds by William Weston Young (1776-1847) will be offered at Rogers Jones in Cardiff on July 27.
Did portrait of ‘impatient’ sitter Mary benefit from an ‘anecdote premium’?
17 July 2026The young Mary Elizabeth Hall (1908-69) was probably not the easiest sitter.
Do harp on about famous connections when selling musical instruments
17 July 2026Two 19th century harps with interesting ownership histories emerged at different salerooms in the space of two days.
Second tranche of Whitton collection brings further demand for John Tunnard
15 July 2026While not as lucrative as the ‘select’ first tranche, part two of the Brian Whitton collection of works by John Tunnard (1900-71) at Newcastle saleroom Anderson & Garland (25% buyer’s premium) nevertheless demonstrated a breadth of interest in pictures from across the artist’s career.
Another Good result in Wimbledon: Rediscovered Old Master sets house record
14 July 2026A previously unrecorded portrait of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy has set a house record for Wimbledon Auctions (25% buyer’s premium).
Fitzwilliam Museum buys early Thomas Gainsborough drawing at auction
10 July 2026A drawing from the early part of Thomas Gainsborough's (1727-88) career, dating from 1748 when the artist was 20 years old, sold to the Fitzwilliam Museum at Cheffins' latest fine art sale.
Christie’s sale of works from London dealer Stephen Ongpin raises £2.51m
08 July 2026A work on paper by Italian Baroque artist Pier Francesco Mola (1612-66) was among the lots bringing demand at Christie’s sale of works from London dealer Stephen Ongpin.
Rediscovered Henry Raeburn portrait brings competition in Cambridge auction
07 July 2026A previously unrecorded painting by Sir Henry Raeburn (1756-1823) that “slipped through the net of all scholars” led the latest fine art sale held by Cambridge saleroom Cheffins (25% buyer’s premium).