Latest News Articles by Anne Crane

From Horatio Nelson to a Hebrew bible and Ulysses to the BFG: a selection of upcoming auction highlights
08 May 2023Stand-out lots to watch out for in UK, Irish, European and US sales of books and works on paper

No escaping Houdini’s research
08 May 2023'A Magician Among the Spirits' by Harry Houdini conjured up one of the highest prices in the Potter & Potter (20% buyer’s premium) Houdini-related sale in Chicago on April 8 when it sold for $15,000 (£12,095).

Flora proved to be a triumph approved by the French emperor
08 May 2023Disputed sculpture was given the thumbs-up by the French emperor and then greatly admired

Mum’s the work for artist Nam Son
08 May 2023Colonial French-influenced Vietnamese painting continues to be a strong market performer with examples regularly turning up in French auctions and making significant sums.

All the ingredients of a useful guide
08 May 2023François Pierre de la Varenne (1618-78) is the chef credited with bringing French cuisine into the modern era.

Fuseli study takes six-figure sum in Paris
08 May 2023This work by Henry Fuseli (1741-1825) is a study for the figure of a kneeling figure of Caractacus’ daughter in the artist’s painting 'Caractacus’ speech before Claudius'.

Reeled in at Doyle auction
08 May 2023Edward Donovan’s 'The Natural History of British Fishes', a 19th century colour plate-illustrated British ichthyological work, featured in the Sporting & Travel Books sale held by Doyle (26/21/15% buyer’s premium) in New York earlier this year.

Famed fables on offer
08 May 2023An early 16th century illustrated edition Aesop was the highlight of an auction of books held by Giquello & Associes (25/20.5/17% buyer’s premium) in Paris on April 14.

Chase over for first hunting book to be illustrated with photographs
08 May 2023A library of works relating to hunting, horseriding and dogs assembled over a 40-year period by a hunting historian, the Comte d’Orglandes, went under the hammer on April 12 at Deloys (22% buyer’s premium inc tax) in Angers, part of the Ivoire group.

Picabia combined Fang and females
08 May 2023This drawing by the Surrealist artist Francis Picabia (1879-1953) had several interesting associations in its provenance.

Museum secures Ingres portrait from dealer’s sale
29 April 2023The two-day sale of works from the French dealership Talabardon & Gautier was held at Drouot by Ader (28% buyer’s premium)

Millet drawing part of Alain Delon sale
24 April 2023This charcoal drawing of a Normandy milkmaid is one of four works by Jean-François Millet (1814-75) to be included in Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr’s Paris sale of the collection of Alain Delon

Painter’s fan design proves a model auction lot in Paris
24 April 2023This design for a fan leaf painted with two reclining figures of elegant women appeared in an Impressionist and Modern art sale held in Paris

Courbet nude emerges for garden party
24 April 2023This work is billed as the largest ever nude by Gustave Courbet (1819-77) to be offered at auction

Symbolist quartet leads Christie’s drawing auction series
17 April 2023A six-figure sum for Belgian Symbolist Fernand Khnopff was the top lot of Christie’s drawing-focused sale.

Real money for Lequeu’s fantasy at Drouot auction centre
17 April 2023The Drouot auction centre was also celebrating drawing week with no shortage of drawings and works on paper on offer.

Roman views by artist Hubert Robert drew attention in Artcurial sale
17 April 2023Also during drawing week, and on the same day and just around the corner from Christie’s, Artcurial held a related art auction.

Buzz returns to Paris drawing week
17 April 2023Paris works on paper events draw a line under Covid as attendance figures bounce back

Salon du Dessin draws in buyers despite Paris protests
17 April 2023Demonstrations and the bags of rubbish piled up on the Paris streets were no deterrent for visitors to the Salon du Dessin in March.

Alain Delon art collection comes to Paris auction
12 April 2023Paintings, drawings and sculptures belonging to Alain Delon will be offered for sale at auction in Paris in June by Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr.