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.

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Bidders go for lively bronze lots produced by German animalier designers

14 August 2026

Proud penguins and contemplative cows were popular subjects for two German animaliers

In The Orchard by Alfred Parsons

Healthy harvest: Alfred Parsons bucolic views bring bidding at separate salerooms

12 August 2026

Large views of the British countryside, garden paintings and botanical studies are the most popular works when it comes to Somerset-born Alfred Parsons (1847-1920).

The Birth of Venus, a print by James Barry

James Barry print represented unique buying opportunity at Forum Auctions

10 August 2026

Due to the nature of dealing in multiples, where direct price precedents are available, prints are sometimes regarded as the most predictable area of the art market.

Maquette for George Vulliamy’s sphinx

Maquette made for the Embankment sphinx emerges in Gloucestershire sale

07 August 2026

When the ancient Egyptian obelisk known as Cleopatra’s Needle was erected on the Victoria Embankment in 1877, it was set on a massive granite foundation and shortly afterwards flanked by a pair of bronze sphinxes.

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Named collections make a memorable sale in Essex

07 August 2026

Collections from renowned individuals capture the attention with a wide and varied selection of lots

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Mystery nobleman portrait known only in black and white photos sells at six times estimate

07 August 2026

For almost half a century, a portrait of a young nobleman by the Flemish artist Bernard van Orley had been hidden.

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Two early owners of French pen and ink drawing possibly by Boucher can be traced

07 August 2026

An unattributed French 18th century pen and ink drawing was highly sought after at the auction held by Bassenge (25% buyer’s premium) in Berlin.

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Kandinsky villa view finds new home at €4.4m

07 August 2026

After almost a century since it was last shown in public, a painting by Wassily Kandinsky, Villa Seeburg am Staffelsee from 1911 topped the evening sale at Ketterer (29/23/15% buyer’s premium) in Munich.

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Rug extends Blackadder coverage

07 August 2026

Textiles maintain relationship between Edinburgh studios and the Mod Brit artist even after her death

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Estimate for Werner left far behind the final price

07 August 2026

Kinsky (25% buyer’s premium) in Vienna completely underestimated the international interest for a painting by the late 17th century Swiss artist Joseph Werner (1637-1710) offered in an art and antiques sale this summer.

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Creative thinking brings auctions and contemporary art together in Norfolk

07 August 2026

Alongside a busy auction operation, Bishop & Miller has opened a permanent art gallery in its premises near Glandford, Norfolk.

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Museum director amassed impressive artworks

07 August 2026

The one-time director of the State Museum of Baden in south-west Germany, Rudolf Schnellbach, was obviously an astute buyer of art.

Mizzen Topsail Luggers by Alfred Wallis

Alfred Wallis painting owned by potter Bernard Leach sails away at Lay’s

04 August 2026

The exceptional provenance of a trademark Alfred Wallis (1855-1942) painting gave it a commercial boost when it appeared at Lay’s (21% buyer’s premium) latest sale of Cornish Art in Penzance.

The Artist's Mother by Harold Gilman

Harold Gilman’s portrait of his mother quadruples estimate at Gorringe’s

03 August 2026

If close personal connections between artist and sitter can raise the value of a portrait, then you might expect a picture by a celebrated artist of his mother to do rather well when offered on the market.

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Hammer total climbs to nearly £35,000 at auction for Arthur Wakefield archive detailing the 1922 British Mount Everest Expedition

03 August 2026

A fascinating archive of diaries and photographs shedding light on the 1922 British Mount Everest Expedition has sold for almost £35,000 in total at auction.

Triqueti Campbell Medallion

Oxfordshire country house buys Triqueti portrait sculpture of a scandalous Victorian heiress after successful fundraising campaign

31 July 2026

A rare portrait sculpture of a scandalous Victorian heiress that sold at auction has been acquired by Buscot Park following a temporary export bar.

Portrait of Laura Knight by Harold Knight

Harold and Laura Knight: A husband-and-wife duo with major saleroom presence

29 July 2026

A portrait of the artist Laura Knight (1874-1970) by her husband Harold Knight (1874-1961) sounds like the kind of work always likely to generate interest at auction. And this is especially so if it happens to be previously unrecorded and offered with an inviting estimate.

Madge Gill postcard

Postcards by self-taught artist Madge Gill come to Sworders for selling show

28 July 2026

Postcards by the so-called ‘outsider’ artist Madge Gill (1882-1961) are being offered in a selling show in Cecil Court, London this month.

Portrait by Katherine Read

Fake or Fortune discovery: Earliest recorded painting of an Indian sitter by a European female artist emerges

24 July 2026

A picture wrapped in a sleeping bag and brought to the Fake or Fortune? team for investigation is the earliest recorded painting of an Indian sitter by a European female artist.

John Singer Sargent watercolour

Why the John Singer Sargent market remains a trans-Atlantic affair

24 July 2026

Artistically and commercially, John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) is a giant that straddles the Atlantic.

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