And so it was at Christie's South Kensington (buyer's premium 19.5%/12%) on May 26 when eight lots by the artist came under the gavel.
When it comes to buying works by Hardy certain caveats come into play, and a study of the examples at the Christie's sale gave an opportunity for the perfect masterclass.
At his best, Hardy's pictures can be placed high up on the ladder of artistic proficiency. At his worst, his pictures are pretty mediocre.
His inconsistency in quality was well recognised in his day, for when he died The Times wrote: "His genuine artistic gift would have led him far if he had cared to subject to the discipline of study and labour."
The problem was that Hardy was a casualty of his own success.
Such was the demand for his work, particularly his repetitive 'fishing vessels in choppy Channel waters', coupled, of course, with having to support his eight children, that he frequently churned out his watercolours in a production-line way. Claims were made that, on occasion, he would work on six or more pictures simultaneously!
Hardy's pictures that come under the heading of 'potboilers' are sloppy, the colours are not fresh and clean but overworked and often 'muddy'.
Often boats look as if they are seated on, rather than in, the water. They lack perspective and body-colour is daubed on indiscriminately.
There was a time when many buyers seemed oblivious to such imperfections, the T.B. Hardy signature always attracting enthusiasts.
Thankfully, today's buyers are generally much more discriminating, which was in evidence at Christie's maritime sale.
Of the eight offered, three failed to attract interest, with the faded, nearly 6ft wide (1.5m) watercolour Home from the Tropics: The Indian Marine Troopship "Jumna" coming into Portsmouth, being bought in at £550, against expectations of £800-1200.
Ironically, the best of the group, Making for Newhaven Harbour, carried a particularly modest estimate of £400-600.
This watercolour, heightened with white and with scratching-out, showed what Hardy could do when focused. It went to the specialist trade at a respectable £1900. The other cautionary note is with regard to Bush's imitators. Indeed, at this sale, one leading dealer wondered if a pair of watercolours were by Robert Thornton Wilding, who, working around 1890 to 1921, received some tuition from Hardy, rather than by the man himself.
However, the consensus of expert opinion appeared to be at one with the catalogue which fully ascribed the pair - Figures on a Jetty with Shipping in the Channel Beyond and A Blustery Day in the Channel off Dover - to Hardy. Signed and dated 1895, the pair went away at £1400, against hopes of £1500-2000.
