Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
Churchill oil proves the toast of Modern British art sales this season
30 November 2020A total of £9.23m was raised from the latest dedicated sales of Modern British art at Sotheby’s and Bonhams in London.
Beaton’s male dancer attracts attention in Cheltenham
30 November 2020Back in May, Bonhams sold 22 pen and ink drawings by Cecil Beaton (1904-80).
Cedric Morris' view of Morocco among Mod Brit highlights at Lyon & Turnbull
30 November 2020A number of notable Modern British pictures came to the auction block at Lyon & Turnbull (25% buyer’s premium) last month.
Bidding for Ravilious wood engraving underlines demand for leading Mod Brit names
30 November 2020As time goes by, an almost imperceptible process seems to take place in the art market where certain artists who were once considered avant garde begin to feel like established names.
Missed in London, Constable sketch of Dedham Vale authenticated in Essex
23 November 2020Sworders is offering an oil sketch of the Suffolk countryside by John Constable (1776-1837) which was previously dismissed as a copy by a leading London auction house.
Ornithological watercolour ordered by brother of Louis XIII is highest Parker Fine Art saleroom price so far
23 November 2020The highest price to date at Parker Fine Art Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) came at its latest Fine Paintings sale when a rare ornithological watercolour caught the eye of a number of bidders, including from abroad.
Picasso’s agony and ecstasy…and the calm of a back garden
23 November 2020Offered with moderate estimates, two Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) etchings from the Vollard Suite drew demand at the recent timed online sale of Modern & Contemporary art at Halls (20% buyer’s premium).
The web shop window: 18th century leopard painting
23 November 2020Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.
Affordable art: Three works sold for under £600 including a Daniel Sherrin landscape
23 November 2020Three modestly valued works selling at regional sales including a Daniel Sherrin landscape.
Winston Churchill whisky painting brings bidding battle at Sotheby’s
20 November 2020A still life by Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965) which included his tipple of choice, a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label, sold at Sotheby’s this week for £800,000.
John Constable landscape emerges at Sworders after being dismissed as a copy by another London auctioneer
17 November 2020Sworders is offering an oil sketch of the Suffolk countryside by John Constable (1776-1837). It will be offered for sale on December 8-9, estimated at £100,000-150,000.
Buyer's premium rises at Bonhams and Phillips
16 November 2020Auction houses Bonhams and Phillips have both increased their buyer's premium.
John Shinnors among auction winners at Dreweatts
16 November 2020Strong bidding emerged at Dreweatts’ (25% buyer’s premium) latest Modern & Contemporary Art auction as a work by Irish artist John Shinnors (b.1950) caught the eye of no fewer than eight trade and private buyers.
Life is a doodle for a 26-year-old
16 November 2020Not too many artists appearing at regional auctions have over two million followers on Instagram but, then again, not too many are like Mr Doodle (b.1994).
Post-war & Contemporary art: Middle market holding up despite supply issues at the top end
16 November 2020The latest Post-war & Contemporary results produced some encouraging signs that supply and demand are holding up well in the £1000 to £50,000 level
Auerbach etchings draw interest at Roseberys
16 November 2020A group of three etchings by Frank Auerbach (b.1931), all head studies of fellow artists, were among the lots receiving interest at Roseberys’ (25% buyer’s premium) latest sale of Modern and Contemporary prints.
James Dodds prices buoyant in the saleroom
16 November 2020James Dodds (b.1957) has been described as both ‘East Anglia’s most famous Contemporary artist after Dame Maggi Hambling’ and as ‘boatbuilding’s artist laureate’.
Early Banksy spray painting makes waves at Bonhams
16 November 2020The irrepressible Banksy (b.1975) led the day at Bonhams’ (27.5/25/20/13.9%) latest auction of Post-War & Contemporary Art in London.
Francis Bacon lithograph triptych among highlights at Tennants
16 November 2020Tennants’ (20% buyer’s premium) latest sale of Modern and Contemporary art generated some confident bidding both online and in the room, taking in limited-edition prints by famous names.
Stand-alone topographical picture auctions at Christie’s come to an end after 52 years
09 November 2020Christie’s has axed its stand-alone sales of topographical pictures and will incorporate the specialist department into the 19th century picture department based in London. Consignments in this area will now be offered in auctions in the wider category.