Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
European picture highlights in Essex sale include a tranquil river and bustling Rome
01 February 2021The two-day sale at Sworders at the end of last year included a couple of notable Continental works that drew considerable competition.
Sandro Botticelli portrait takes $80m at Sotheby’s Old Master auction in New York
28 January 2021A portrait by Sandro Botticelli (c.1445-1510) sold for $80m (£58.4m) at Sotheby’s in New York today. With fees the price was $92.2m.
Mother’s portrait of her son proves £100,000 sleeper at Colchester sale
28 January 2021A portrait of a young boy in profile drew spectacular bidding at the latest sale held by Reeman Dansie (20% buyer’s premium) of Colchester.
Steamy Russell Flint works set pulses racing
25 January 2021A collection of watercolours by Sir William Russell Flint (1880-1969) given their own stand-alone catalogue set pulses racing at Lyon & Turnbull.
Allan Ramsay portrait deemed ‘a Rolls-Royce of a painting’
25 January 2021A rediscovered historical portrait by a major name can give a boost to any sale.
Life returns to the lochs and glens
25 January 2021Traditional picturesque views of Scotland show signs of a market revival
Brexit deal retains Artist’s Resale Right as part of level playing field
18 January 2021The UK has agreed to follow the existing Artist’s Resale Right (ARR) regulations under the Brexit trade deal that came into effect earlier this month.
Striking a pose for nearly 50 years
18 January 2021Life model depicted by Freud, Auerbach and even Lennon amassed her own art collection
Miniature of Benjamin West by Henry Bone sells to US buyer
18 January 2021A miniature by Henry Bone (1755-1834) depicting the American artist Benjamin West (1738-1820) was among the notable lots at the recent Hansons sale.
Wimperis returns after six years
18 January 2021Reappearing in the same saleroom after a six-year interval, a landscape by Edmund Morison Wimperis (1835-1900) attracted attention at Halls (20% buyer’s premium) of Shrewsbury.
Old Masters face greater challenges on the supply side due to Covid
11 January 2021London salerooms hope for increased consignments after a difficult year for Old Masters
Brit vendor trio boost for Sotheby’s
11 January 2021Three works from British vendors were among the most notable lots at Sotheby’s (25/20/13.9% buyer’s premium + 1% overhead premium) latest Old Master evening sale in London.
Marine scene at Bonhams was ‘owned by a Christie’
11 January 2021A marine battle scene believed to have once been owned by auctioneer James Christie (1730-1803) topped Bonhams’ (27.5%/25/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) latest Old Master sale in London.
Two’s company, three’s allowed
04 January 2021Collection offered in Canterbury recalls the bizarre family life of Stanley Spencer
Russell Drysdale record equalled at Melbourne sale
04 January 2021An important work by Modern Australian artist Russell Drysdale (1912-81) equalled his auction record when it sold at Deutscher and Hackett (25% buyer’s premium).
Rare prints by Iraqi artist emerge in UK
04 January 2021As with other sectors of the art and antiques market, Contemporary art can certainly produce dramatic bidding battles for under-valued material at auction.
Five top Old Masters sold at auction in 2020
28 December 2020Despite the obvious challenges with coronavirus this year, some notable sales still occurred in the Old Master market. Here we pick out five highlights from across the year.
Supply hits Old Masters auction series
21 December 2020The traditional pre-Christmas Old Masters auctions in London were something of a mixed bag this year.
Austrian artist’s rare auction appearance
21 December 2020A group of works by the elusive Austrian émigré artist Marie-Louise von Motesiczky (1906-96) made a rare appearance at Chiswick Auctions’ (25% buyer’s premium) latest British & European Fine Art sale.
Provenance under discussion at International Catalogue Raisonné Association’s second annual conference
17 December 2020Over 200 delegates from 15 countries tuned in for The International Catalogue Raisonné Association’s second annual conference with the topic under discussion being provenance.