Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
‘Unknown study by Michelangelo for the Sistine Chapel’ to be offered at Christie’s
25 November 2025It is apparently not unusual for Christie’s to receive approaches from people claiming to have a work by a great Renaissance master.
Lynch images of a rural idyll impress in Dorset sale
24 November 2025A group of works by James Lynch (b.1956) brought good competition in the regions after emerging at Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium) of Dorchester, Dorset.
John Minton fishing scenes net strong four-figure prices
24 November 2025Towards the end of the 1940s and in the early 1950s, the artist John Minton (1917-57) painted a series of works in Cornwall, producing pictures mostly featuring boats, fishermen and harbours.
Rare piece of boxing history packs a punch at eight times estimate
20 November 2025A rare visual record of a ‘legendary’ boxing match that took place in Gretna Green in 1816 drew a strong contest itself at an auction in North Yorkshire
Klimt portrait makes second-highest all-time auction price
19 November 2025The inaugural auction at Sotheby’s new headquarters at the Breuer Building in New York produced a series of fireworks, not least a record for any lot ever sold by the 281-year-old firm.
Three Sheila Fell works on offer, three different private buyers
17 November 2025A trio of works by Cumbrian artist Sheila Fell (1931-79) were among the highlights of Newcastle saleroom Anderson & Garland’s (25% buyer’s premium) latest Modern Art & Design Auction.
John Constable chalk sketch brings demand at Roseberys
12 November 2025A sketch by John Constable (1776-1837) held in a private collection for almost two centuries sold at almost double its top estimate at Roseberys’ latest sale of Old Master, British & European Pictures.
Dealer’s Old Master collection consigned to Australian auction house Leonard Joel
12 November 2025A group of around 30 Old Masters from the collection of the late dealer Robert Compton Jones is being offered at Leonard Joel in Sydney on December 8.
Gerrit Dou’s flute player to highlight Christie’s Old Master sale in London
11 November 2025A painting by Dutch artist Gerrit Dou (1613-75) that has been in a British private collection since the 19th century will lead Christie’s Old Master evening sale in London next month.
Not grim for Grimshaw up north
10 November 2025‘Two bidders going hell for leather’ race to £55,000 for scene by artist famed for atmospheric nocturns
Will Rembrandt’s lion drawing roar at Sotheby’s?
07 November 2025If it sells, it will become one of the most expensive drawings ever sold.
Rare and evocative First World War scene brings ‘far and wide’ interest at Leicestershire auction
07 November 2025Among the most interesting works on paper sold in the autumn sales around the UK was a First World War scene by a French artist.
Cedric Morris flower painting blooms at £160,000
06 November 2025A string of notable five and six-figure prices at the autumn art sales in the UK included a couple of ‘trademark’ Modern British pictures.
Rediscovered Dali bought by dealer for £150 makes £34,000 at Cambridge auction
28 October 2025An original work by Salvador Dali discovered in a Cambridge-based house clearance made a major return for the vendor at Cheffins on October 23.
Richard Eurich country vista brings demand at Oxford sale
28 October 2025A good sum for a painting by Richard Eurich (1903-92) at an auction outside London came at Mallams’ latest Art & Music sale in Oxford.
Drawings lifted by Constable and van Dyck connections
27 October 2025A couple of intriguing pictures offered as ‘attributed to’ major artists drew interest at Wotton Auction Rooms’ (20% buyer’s premium) latest quarterly fine art sale.
Christie’s posts higher Modern British total with new buyer’s premium now in force
24 October 2025Christie’s reported a 20% year-on-year rise in the total for its evening sale of Modern British and Irish Art in London – the first auction in this category to take place under the firm’s updated rate of buyer’s premium.
Artists’ estates sale underlines vibrant market at more affordable levels
23 October 2025The Modern and Contemporary art market isn’t all about the expensive headline lots sold during Frieze week.
Bonhams sold to asset management company as senior staff depart
23 October 2025Auction house Bonhams has a new owner and has announced sweeping changes in the firm’s management team.
Identity of mystery Battle of Waterloo black bandsman revealed
21 October 2025The identity of the mystery sitter in a portrait sold at a Sussex auction, who was depicted in the uniform of a cavalry regiment and wearing a Waterloo Medal, has now been revealed by the National Army Museum.