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.

‘Poppies’ by John William Godward

Five top paintings sold at auctions outside London this year

28 December 2021

Despite the lockdowns, the last 12 months has been a busy time for the art market with plenty of activity witnessed around the country. Here we pick out five of the top picture results at auctions outside London in 2021.

Portrait of Prince William

UK buyer sought for rare portrait of the future King William IV

22 December 2021

An export block has been placed on a portrait of the future King William IV painted during the American Revolutionary war, in the hope a UK buyer can be found.

Biffin watercolour

The £9000 tribute to the talented Miss Biffin

20 December 2021

A rare work by Sarah Biffin (1784-1850), the early 19th century artist born without limbs, sold for £9000 at Sworders on December 15.

Ferdinand Decap

Leroy work is among early stars of London Art Week

20 December 2021

A portrait by Orientalist artist Paul Leroy (1860-1942) of a man in a yellow turban is among the early sales made during London Art Week (LAW).

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Banksy prints bowl up at auction

20 December 2021

Two Banksy prints donated to charity set high prices for their respective individual editions at a Bristol auction.

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Fine example of René Magritte's Surrealism comes from Swiss collector who moved to the US

20 December 2021

A select 13-lot auction of works from the collection of Amalia de Schulthess at Bonhams (27.5/25/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) in New York on December 7 was led at $8.4m (£6.36m) by a classic René Magritte (1896-1967) Surrealist painting.

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Bratbys on offer bought direct from the artist

20 December 2021

Two works by ‘kitchen sink’ realist John Bratby (1928-92) were offered in the latest picture sale at Olympia Auctions (25% buyer’s premium).

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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

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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.

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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.

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Shooting over to the States

20 December 2021

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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