Fine Art

Fine art is a staple of the dealing and auctioneering industry, featuring works ranging from Medieval art to traditional Old Masters, and right through to cutting-edge Contemporary art.

While oil paintings represent a large part of the sector, other mediums adopted by artists across the ages include drawings, watercolours, prints and photographs.

img_22-1.jpg

Tantalising sketch gives glimpse ‘of a young Francis Bacon’

20 December 2021

Shepeard collection includes a drawing thought to be an unrecorded portrait of the artist

img_24-3.jpg

Art rarity: the trade outbids private buyers

20 December 2021

A sight increasingly uncommon at auction – the trade outbidding private buyers on key lots of Modern art – occurred a number of times at Sworders’ (25% buyer’s premium) latest sale in this category.

img_32-1.jpg

Collector interview: Meet the ‘Belgravian hermit’

20 December 2021

A lawyer who likes to keep it local also has an insatiable curiosity about art and antiques.

img_36-1.jpg

Shooting over to the States

20 December 2021

Comet depiction is one of the highlights as UK dealers target US sales opportunity

img_46-3.jpg

Artist portrayed by artist: two prominent Russian avant-garde figures

20 December 2021

A painting that involved two prominent figures in the field of Russian avant-garde art in the early 20th century proved to be a high point in Paris.

img_67-2.jpg

ATG letter: Cider picture – my bet is also Bateman says Rupert Maas

20 December 2021

Re: ‘In-cider knowledge needed…’, Letters, ATG Nos 2519/21.

Laura Knight drawing

Nuremberg Trials sketch by Laura Knight in our pick of five auction highlights

17 December 2021

ATG’s weekly selection of items that caught bidders’ eyes includes a Nuremberg Trials sketch by Dame Laura Knight that doubled its estimate at Woolley & Wallis.

English School double portrait

Rare 17th century English School allegorical painting barred from export in hope it is saved for the nation

14 December 2021

The UK government has issued a temporary export bar for a rare 17th century painting depicting a black female sitter alongside her white companion.

img_5-2.jpg

The record £16m love affair with Aphrodite

13 December 2021

More than 70 years after it was last seen in public, an Imperial Roman sculpture dubbed ‘The Hamilton Aphrodite’ has set a record for any ancient marble at auction.

img_35-3.jpg

Big Cats Art Deco style

13 December 2021

This lacquer panel by the French Art Deco master of the medium, Jean Dunand (1877-1942), will feature in a sale held by Ferri at Drouot on December 17.

img_9-2.jpg

Bidders on the button for Gnoli hyper-realism

13 December 2021

On December 2, as part of its So Unique series launched in April, Millon held a single-lot sale in Paris.

img_35-1.jpg

Mucha moved from ads to Slavic folk art and myth

13 December 2021

This oil on canvas of a white-robed young couple by the Czech artist Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939) was sold for $800,000 (£601,505) in Chicago on December 2.

img_18-3.jpg

Signed by artist or patron?

13 December 2021

Among a number of Indian miniatures causing a stir at London sales this autumn was a painting of a camel and its rider.

img_34-2.jpg

From 14 Inca emperors to one conquistador

13 December 2021

This series of Peruvian paintings of the 14 Inca emperors plus the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro featured in a sale held in Barcelona .

img_35-2.jpg

Mountain route comes to auction by descent

13 December 2021

A large and impressive painting of a lush Indonesian tropical landscape by Raden Saleh (1811-80) was sold in Paris on December 2 for €1.7m (£1.45m).

img_14-6.jpg

Nemon became Sir Winston’s sculptor of choice

13 December 2021

The Anglo-Croatian sculptor Oscar Nemon (1906-85) first met Sir Winston Churchill when holidaying in Marrakech in 1951.

img_18-1.jpg

Down Under watercolour prices go way up

13 December 2021

Lyon & Turnbull’s (25/20% buyer’s premium) auction to disperse the contents of Lowood House may well be best remembered for the early 16th century maiolica dish which fetched a mighty £1.04m – reported on the front page of ATG No 2513.

Guy Cooper

5 Questions: Old Master dealer Guy Cooper

13 December 2021

Guy Cooper set up his gallery earlier this year and holds an online exhibition of small Old Master pictures until December 24.

img_25-4.jpg

San Lorenzo rises afresh

13 December 2021

A recently rediscovered life-size terracotta bust of San Lorenzo, c.1440, by early Renaissance sculptor Donatello stars at Colnaghi’s exhibition.

Blackfriars Bridge under construction

The web shop window: A view of the first Blackfriars Bridge under construction

13 December 2021

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

Categories

News