Art Market

More than 70 lots of paintings, works on paper and antiques assembled by the well-known auctioneer and collector Paul Whitfield (1942- 2018) went under the hammer at Mallams (25% buyer’s premium) in Oxford on May 17.

Dealers are now facing more competition from collectors as works estimated in the hundreds of pounds range are taken to four-figure prices

Among a number of works at the latest Old Master, British and European Art sale at Sworders (25% buyer’s premium) sparking keen interest were a couple of contrasting paintings selling well above predictions.

The 1947 Street Scene with Figures by LS Lowry (1887-1976) is the earliest work so far to appear on the market from a group of vibrant figurative pastels.

Works by Keith Vaughan (1912-77) from the collection of the man who played a crucial role in preserving and promoting his legacy come for sale.

Two works bringing demand at different auctions recently showed the market’s continued appetite for works by Modern British female artists.

A couple of works by leading names in the Modern British art market helped Dreweatts (26/25/20/12.5% buyer’s premium) post a total of over £1m (including premium) at its early spring Modern and Contemporary Art auction.

On Saturday 17 April, 1982, the artist Jonathan Warrender (b.1954) found himself in the back of a Bentley whirling through country lanes towards Chequers.

Recent results for the Bloomsbury Group artist show how his prolific output creates a wide price range

A drawing by Sheila Fell (1931-79) offered in Cockermouth showed how strong demand can emerge even for a simple sketch.

A small but eyecatching self-portrait by Denton Welch (1915-48) equalled the auction record for the artist.

Despite being a copy by a little-known Norfolk painter, ‘authentic’ portrait makes remarkable price

Bonhams’ (27.5/26/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) latest Marine sale was led by an elegant depiction of a famous naval battle between British and French ships that took place towards the end of the American War of Independence.

This late untitled drawing by Arshile Gorky (1904-48) in pencil and crayon on paper was the highlight of a sale of Modern and Contemporary paintings held by Digard (25/20/14% buyer’s premium) on March 28 at Drouot in Paris.

One of the top-priced lots in a recent sale held by CRN Auctions (22% buyer’s premium) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on April 23 was this work on paper by Alexander Calder (1898-1976).

A classic pale pastel toned still-life by Giorgio Morandi (1890-1964) is one of the headline lots in a two-day sale of Modern and Contemporary Art at Farsettiarte in Prato in Italy on May 26-27.

It is a rare event when a painting by Howard Hodgkin (1932-2017) turns up at a German auction, but on June 5, Van Ham can offer his 1996 painting Miami in its Modern and Contemporary sale.

The composition and use of colour make 'Monica nude with Lichtenstein', which is being sold by Ketterer Kunst in Munich on June 9, instantly recognisable as a work by American pop-artist Tom Wesselmann (1931-2004).

This Normandy beach scene by Kees Van Dongen (1877-1968) from c.1948-49 will be offered for sale by Gros & Delettrez at Drouot in Paris on June 20.

High-value Post-war and Contemporary art is increasingly on offer beyond Mayfair and the centre of the capital