Fine Art

A historically significant portrait of Nicholas Sprimont (1716-71) is set to stay in the UK after dealer Errol Manners sold it for the second time in his career – this time to the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Works by John Bellany (1942-2013) abound at auction, with at least 2000 pictures sold in the last 10 years.

This near-life size 19th century cold painted bronze of the Three Graces sold at the Buxton Antiques Fair last month.

A look at highlights from dealers and summer auctions in the UK.

Horror and fantasy novelist went from buying comic art to modern European purchases.

A late Victorian oil on canvas depicting steam ships on the Thames at Wapping drew a protracted bidding battle at Ramsay Cornish’s (20% buyer’s premium) recent Homes & Interiors auction in Edinburgh.

Summer highlights from auctions and dealers.

Highlights from a busy summer for auction houses and dealers.

Another artist for whom a plentiful supply of works is available is Northern painter Arthur Delaney (1927-87).

A woodcut by German Expressionist Max Pechstein (1881-1955) brought overseas interest to Kinghams (23% buyer’s premium) back on March 3-5.

London dealer Richard Green was the successful bidder on a Sir William Nicholson (1872- 1949) still-life sold for £440,000 (plus 25% buyer’s premium).

Recently found in a Norfolk attic, a full set of Canadian scenes by the military artist and topographical draughtsman Major General James Pattison Cockburn (1779-1847) sold for £130,000 at Forum Auctions (plus 25% buyer’s premium).

Two rare Edward Bawden (1903-89) prints showing Ives Farm in Great Bardfield drew interest in a Modern and Contemporary art sale.

In 1923, soon after the Swiss avant-garde artist Alice Bailly painted her 2ft 2in x 20in (65 x 50cm) canvas La cantatrice, it was bought by the collector Friedrich Trüssel at an exhibition in Bern.

Showing the growing sensitivity towards estimates in the Modern British market, a portrait by Sir Matthew Smith (1879-1959) that had been unsold at Halls last year did rather better when it was reoffered last month with a reduced pitch.

Two paintings sold in German auctions were produced by artists killed in wartime

Maps and views of San Francisco were among the principal attractions of an April 21 sale held by local auction house PBA Galleries (25/20% buyer’s premium) to disperse the first portion of the Charles Fraccia Collection.