Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
Single-owner collections at the double in Newbury
01 April 2024Two prominent single-owner collections put together into a single Town & Country sale at Dreweatts generated some decent if selective bidding when it came to the pictures on offer.
How a sensible pitch yields rewards for traditional pictures
01 April 2024It’s wise to keep a lid on estimates for traditional pictures where condition and market freshness is lacking
Cadell still life sets house record for Great Western Auctions
27 March 2024A fine example of a Scottish Colourist still life posted a house record for Glasgow saleroom Great Western Auctions (24% buyer’s premium).
Lowry’s Sunday afternoon strolls to second-highest sum
25 March 2024Christie’s posted the second-highest price at auction for LS Lowry (1887-1976) when Sunday Afternoon, one of his largest industrial landscapes, was knocked down at £5.2m. With buyer’s premium added, the price was £6.29m.
Ranken redcoat detail revealed after ATG runs preview story
25 March 2024A sense of rediscovery came at Young’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Surrey when a portrait of a figure in eye-catching red attire emerged from a local deceased estate.
Auction lots provide a glimpse into home life of De László
25 March 2024With an exhibition dedicated to Philip Alexius de László (1869- 1937) having just opened at Gainsborough’s House in Sudbury, lively activity in the artist’s market has also come of late.
First part of the year blessed by bumper sales of dealer collections
25 March 2024Withers and Dailey selections follow hot on the heels of Turpin lots with plenty of fine art highlights
Second highest auction price for LS Lowry set at Christie’s
21 March 2024Christie’s posted the second highest price at auction for LS Lowry (1887-1976) when ‘Sunday Afternoon’, one of his largest industrial landscapes, was knocked down at £5.2m.
Lavery’s sketch for Roger Casement trial among six-figure pictures at Dreweatts
21 March 2024Dreweatts’ latest Modern and Contemporary Art sale was one of the highest grossing auctions the Newbury saleroom has ever staged in this category with a record number of registered bidders and three pictures making over £100,000.
Rediscovered JMW Turner watercolour sells for £37,000 at Cheffins
20 March 2024An early watercolour by JMW Turner which had been hanging unidentified in the vendor’s dining room for over 30 years overshot a £20,000-30,000 estimate at Cheffins in Cambridge, selling at £37,000.
Weavers work their auction magic for 18th century picture
18 March 2024A rare picture painted in India by Arthur William Devis (1762-1822) depicting a group of Bengali weavers was the subject of dramatic competition at Gorringe’s (25% buyer’s premium) spring fine art and antiques sale.
Museum buys Biffin self-portrait
18 March 2024A self-portrait by Sarah Biffin (c.1784-1850) has been acquired by the Museum of Somerset where it is now on display.
Earl of Liverpool lots include portraits
18 March 2024A group of portraits from the collection of the 3rd Earl of Liverpool, Charles Cecil Cope Jenkinson (1784-1851), will be offered at Gloucestershire saleroom Chorley’s next month.
Stand-out works on paper underline appeal of rarities from notable names
18 March 2024If you wanted to sum up the current state of the watercolours and works on paper sector in a single sentence, you might say something like ‘flatter than ever for general works but exceptional lots routinely generating strong interest’.
Sarah Biffin self-portrait acquired by Museum of Somerset from dealer Philip Mould
16 March 2024A self-portrait by Sarah Biffin (c.1784-1850) bought by the Museum of Somerset has recently gone on display.
‘A testament to elegance’: Bach manuscript goes to Bodleian in lieu of inheritance tax
15 March 2024A rare autograph manuscript by composer Johann Sebastian Bach has been acquired by the University of Oxford’s Bodleian Libraries.
‘Quintessential English’ collection of family portraits comes to auction in Gloucestershire
13 March 2024A group of portraits from the collection of the 3rd Earl of Liverpool, Charles Cecil Cope Jenkinson (1784-1851), will be offered at Gloucestershire saleroom Chorley’s auctioneers in April.
Call for new rules on ‘cold cast bronzes’
11 March 2024A surge in websites selling ‘cold-cast bronzes’ – sometimes passing them off as original metal alloy sculptures – has led to calls for tighter rules to distinguish them from genuine works.
Dealer 'Dick' Turpin's fine art exemplifies his eclectic taste
11 March 2024Although the late antiques dealer Maurice ‘Dick’ Turpin (1928-2005) may have been better known for his expertise in furniture and works of art, he also had an eye for a painting.
Atmospheric Foord Hughes painting of a rural scene gathers demand
11 March 2024The highest price at auction for 12 years for Arthur Foord Hughes (1856-1934) came at Nottingham saleroom Mellors & Kirk (24% buyer’s premium) at the start of the year.