Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
Cacti pricked out as an authentic Nolde
20 January 2025A watercolour by the Expressionist painter Emil Nolde (1867- 1956) which has undergone a year-long authentication process is being offered at a Shropshire auction.
Fresh to the market: Zoffany flower and watercress girls
20 January 2025Among the portraits bringing demand at the latest series of Old Master auctions in London was a pair of works depicting young women by Johann Zoffany (1733-1810).
Old Master sales produce stand-out results despite slim pickings in terms of supply
20 January 2025Consignments have been thin on the ground but various lots attracted significant sums at the recent London series
Klimt brothers creep into ‘Old Master’ sale category
20 January 2025These days it’s not unusual to see works that are not technically Old Masters appearing in Old Master auctions.
Bonnie Brennan replaces Guillaume Cerutti as CEO of Christie’s
16 January 2025Christie’s has appointed Bonnie Brennan as Chief Executive Officer with current CEO Guillaume Cerutti becoming chairman as well as taking on a new role within Artémis, the holding company of the auction house’s owner François Pinault.
Collection of Barbara Hepworth drawings and working notes sells at Chiswick Auctions
15 January 2025An archive of annotated sketches and correspondence showing the working methods of sculptor Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975) sold for £20,000 at the end of last year.
Old Master flagship sale to be Sotheby’s last with ‘simplified’ fee
13 January 2025The upcoming Old Master sales in New York in early February will be the last flagship auction series to take place with Sotheby’s ‘simplified’ buyer’s premium structure in place.
Architectural drawings treasure trove helps to build art market optimism
13 January 2025End of year highlights included specialist collection amassed by couple who were both renowned experts
Emil Nolde watercolour to be offered at Halls
10 January 2025A watercolour by the Expressionist painter Emil Nolde (1867-1956) which has undergone a year-long authentication process is being offered at a Shropshire auction.
UK government blocks export of remarkable 17th century panels
09 January 2025An export bar has been placed on a set of highly decorated 17th century panels that sold at Sotheby’s last year for £1.62m.
Laura Knight portrait of ‘favoured model’ tops estimate in Chichester
07 January 2025Among the Modern British pictures generating bidding at the end of last year was a portrait by Dame Laura Knight (1877-1970) that was lifted to an above-estimate sum thanks to a combination of commercial factors.
Dod Procter 1920s works figure strongly in saleroom bidding battles
06 January 2025Over the last decade, portraits from the 1920s by Dod Procter (1891-1972) have become increasingly valuable.
Dealer duo the Hobarts set Irish eyes smiling
06 January 2025Two sales in London offered personal collection of the Hobarts including artists they had championed
Surrey auction house to sell single-owner collection from luxury holiday cottage
23 December 2024Parker Fine Art Auctions in Farnham is selling the collection of the late Melinda (‘Mindy’) McLean, a businesswoman who was a keen patron of the arts and a supporter of young artists.
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).