Art Market

Sale of more than 300 works amassed by former journalist for The Times attracts a wide range of interest

A group of seven works that were once part of the collection of noted connoisseur and scholar Kerrison Preston (1884-1974) came to a recent auction held by Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Dorset.

A group of three works by LS Lowry (1887-1976) consigned from two separate sources appeared in a recent sale at Dawsons (27.5% buyer’s premium) in Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Coinciding with the latest Old Master auction series in New York, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, announced the acquisition of Artemisia Gentileschi’s Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy.

High selling rates, prices beating estimates and decent auction totals suggest the market is in a good place

A handful of Continental pictures representing different strands of 19th century art, including Romantic, Realist, academic and Grand Tour traditions, were among the highlights at Chiswick Auctions’ (26% buyer’s premium) latest sale of Old Masters and 19th century art.

Along with August, January is traditionally the quietest month in terms of regional auctions.

A group of five pictures by Clifford Hall (1904-73) came to Parker Fine Art Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) in Farnham sale courtesy of the daughter of a collector who used to paint with the artist.

‘Any half-good work’ by the artist-mountaineer ‘seems to get several phone lines booked’, says expert

Strong competition came for two small sketches by Henry Scott Tuke (1858-1929) at different regional salerooms in January.

Preparatory works by the Bloomsbury artist were created for spectacular works at Berwick church

Poignant paintings make highest auction sum for the artist outside London

A notable Irish hunting painting that emerged at Fonsie Mealy (25% buyer’s premium including VAT) at the end of last year drew “very spirited bidding” according to the Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny saleroom.

A group of works by George Richmond (1809-96) offered at auction at the end of last year showed plenty of life remains in the market for the London-born painter.

Market freshness and good provenance have always been key components in the Old Master sector, and the latest series of auctions in this category underlined how heavily dependent the market remains on the supply of works that have these qualities.

Over his career, the Flemish artist Hendrick van Balen (1573-1632) collaborated with a number of other artists, not least Rubens. Another was Jan Brueghel the Elder (1568-1625).