Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
‘Jazz age’ paintings removed from barn emerge at Duke’s
19 April 2024A cache of works by the ‘forgotten’ artist Kathleen Muriel Scale (1913-2006) will appear at a Dorset auction next week.
Sotheby’s to offer Sutherland study for ‘loathed’ Churchill portrait
18 April 2024Sotheby’s will offer one of the most complete surviving studies of Sir Winston Churchill by Graham Sutherland (1903-80). It was painted in preparation for the famous final portrait – a work which the sitter violently loathed and was later destroyed.
Long journey ends in LA
15 April 2024With international institutions keen to rebalance their collections to include more works by female artists, the J Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles announced last week that it has bought an early portrait by Sophie Frémiet (1797-1867) from a London dealer.
Seven works give market snapshot of Spencer Watson
15 April 2024A group of seven works by George Spencer Watson (1869-1934) provided a boost to Minster Auctions’ (20% buyer’s premium) recent two-day sale of fine art and antiques.
Cornish art collection creates Newlyn School wave of interest
15 April 2024One of the most important groups of works by the artists’ colony to emerge recently indicates level of demand in this market
Dealer sells portrait by female artist to Getty Museum
11 April 2024With international institutions keen to rebalance their collections to include more works by female artists, the J Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles announced this week that it has bought an early portrait by Sophie Frémiet (1797-1867).
Arthur Devis portrait soars over estimate in Devon auction
10 April 2024Following the major sum for a rare picture painted in India by Arthur William Devis (1762-1822) at Gorringe’s, another work by the artist flew over estimate a fortnight later in Devon.
Bidding battle for Old Testament painting despite condition issues
08 April 2024A monumental painting of an Old Testament subject, which came to auction in a gloomy state, drew a remarkable bidding battle at a West Sussex sale.
A Francis Picabia artwork is among five lots to watch
08 April 2024With estimates from £500, here are five previews of lots coming up at auction this week.
Pounds replace euros as currency for Artist's Resale Right in UK
02 April 2024A change to Artist's Resale Right in the UK means the levy will now be calculated in pounds rather than euros.
How a sensible pitch yields rewards for traditional pictures
01 April 2024It’s wise to keep a lid on estimates for traditional pictures where condition and market freshness is lacking
Cadell’s dahlias create a fresh house record
01 April 2024A fine example of a Scottish Colourist still-life posted a house record for Glasgow saleroom Great Western Auctions (24% buyer’s premium).
Single-owner collections at the double in Newbury
01 April 2024Two prominent single-owner collections put together into a single Town & Country sale at Dreweatts generated some decent if selective bidding when it came to the pictures on offer.
Cadell still life sets house record for Great Western Auctions
27 March 2024A fine example of a Scottish Colourist still life posted a house record for Glasgow saleroom Great Western Auctions (24% buyer’s premium).
Lowry’s Sunday afternoon strolls to second-highest sum
25 March 2024Christie’s posted the second-highest price at auction for LS Lowry (1887-1976) when Sunday Afternoon, one of his largest industrial landscapes, was knocked down at £5.2m. With buyer’s premium added, the price was £6.29m.
Auction lots provide a glimpse into home life of De László
25 March 2024With an exhibition dedicated to Philip Alexius de László (1869- 1937) having just opened at Gainsborough’s House in Sudbury, lively activity in the artist’s market has also come of late.
Ranken redcoat detail revealed after ATG runs preview story
25 March 2024A sense of rediscovery came at Young’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Surrey when a portrait of a figure in eye-catching red attire emerged from a local deceased estate.
First part of the year blessed by bumper sales of dealer collections
25 March 2024Withers and Dailey selections follow hot on the heels of Turpin lots with plenty of fine art highlights
Second highest auction price for LS Lowry set at Christie’s
21 March 2024Christie’s posted the second highest price at auction for LS Lowry (1887-1976) when ‘Sunday Afternoon’, one of his largest industrial landscapes, was knocked down at £5.2m.
Lavery’s sketch for Roger Casement trial among six-figure pictures at Dreweatts
21 March 2024Dreweatts’ latest Modern and Contemporary Art sale was one of the highest grossing auctions the Newbury saleroom has ever staged in this category with a record number of registered bidders and three pictures making over £100,000.