Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
Weavers work their auction magic for 18th century picture
18 March 2024A rare picture painted in India by Arthur William Devis (1762-1822) depicting a group of Bengali weavers was the subject of dramatic competition at Gorringe’s (25% buyer’s premium) spring fine art and antiques sale.
Museum buys Biffin self-portrait
18 March 2024A self-portrait by Sarah Biffin (c.1784-1850) has been acquired by the Museum of Somerset where it is now on display.
Earl of Liverpool lots include portraits
18 March 2024A group of portraits from the collection of the 3rd Earl of Liverpool, Charles Cecil Cope Jenkinson (1784-1851), will be offered at Gloucestershire saleroom Chorley’s next month.
Stand-out works on paper underline appeal of rarities from notable names
18 March 2024If you wanted to sum up the current state of the watercolours and works on paper sector in a single sentence, you might say something like ‘flatter than ever for general works but exceptional lots routinely generating strong interest’.
Sarah Biffin self-portrait acquired by Museum of Somerset from dealer Philip Mould
16 March 2024A self-portrait by Sarah Biffin (c.1784-1850) bought by the Museum of Somerset has recently gone on display.
‘A testament to elegance’: Bach manuscript goes to Bodleian in lieu of inheritance tax
15 March 2024A rare autograph manuscript by composer Johann Sebastian Bach has been acquired by the University of Oxford’s Bodleian Libraries.
‘Quintessential English’ collection of family portraits comes to auction in Gloucestershire
13 March 2024A group of portraits from the collection of the 3rd Earl of Liverpool, Charles Cecil Cope Jenkinson (1784-1851), will be offered at Gloucestershire saleroom Chorley’s auctioneers in April.
Call for new rules on ‘cold cast bronzes’
11 March 2024A surge in websites selling ‘cold-cast bronzes’ – sometimes passing them off as original metal alloy sculptures – has led to calls for tighter rules to distinguish them from genuine works.
Dealer 'Dick' Turpin's fine art exemplifies his eclectic taste
11 March 2024Although the late antiques dealer Maurice ‘Dick’ Turpin (1928-2005) may have been better known for his expertise in furniture and works of art, he also had an eye for a painting.
Atmospheric Foord Hughes painting of a rural scene gathers demand
11 March 2024The highest price at auction for 12 years for Arthur Foord Hughes (1856-1934) came at Nottingham saleroom Mellors & Kirk (24% buyer’s premium) at the start of the year.
‘Beechey’ portrait of an Indian sitter, the mysterious Moonshee, is ready for research
11 March 2024A mixture of leading artist, intriguing subject, ‘prominent’ background and perhaps a bit of speculation helped propel a portrait of an Indian figure to 36 times the top estimate.
Magritte leads Modern art auctions in London as overall totals fall
09 March 2024A surrealist painting by René Magritte (1898-1967) led the latest series of Modern and Contemporary art sales in London although overall the auctions at Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Phillips were rather flat compared to previous years.
JMW Turner watercolour takes £96,000 at Herefordshire auction
06 March 2024A watercolour by JMW Turner (1775-1851) depicting a famous English country estate has sold for £96,000 at Minster Auctions.
Modern British works from artistic sources boost Colchester sale
04 March 2024A group of four pictures on offer in an Essex auction came from a vendor whose grandmother was part of the Fitzrovian set - the Bohemian group of artists and intellectuals centred around Charlotte Street in London, just north of Soho, in the 1920s-50s.
Fierce negotiator who had a sharp eye for artistic talent
04 March 2024Roseberys’ sale of Modern British & 20th Century art on March 12 will include works from the collection of Bernard Sheridan (1927-2007).
Works fly over estimate at Lay’s sale of the Branfield collection
29 February 2024Underlining the strength of demand for quality pieces of 20th century Cornish art by well known names, the collection of art historian and author John Branfield and his late wife Kathleen (known as Pep) commanded plenty of interest at Penzance saleroom Lay’s.
Pick of the week: Daniells artwork is the Shore thing
26 February 2024It is a good time to be selling works by Thomas Daniell (1749-1840).
Frederick Austin: an artist of the old school
26 February 2024Group of works by a maker who used mostly traditional techniques creates a secondary market test
Stannard still life keeps up standards in East Anglia
22 February 2024Like a number of East Anglian artists, Eloise Harriet Stannard (1829-1915) has a decent following among both the trade and a core group of private collectors.
Hubert Robert's range on show at Old Master sales
19 February 2024Both Sotheby’s and Christie’s offered notable works by French artist Hubert Robert (1733-1808) at the latest Old Master auction series in New York.