Today's Munnings' market is certainly different to what it was in 1995 when, against expectations of £4000-6000, the artist's oil on panel Pond Wood, Fingringhoe Hall attracted a bid of £5200 at Sotheby's Scotland.
On September 20 the painting, illustrated right, comes under Christie's gavel when the firm offer it as part of the auction taking place at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire. Being sold by order of the Trustees of the Bedford Estates and members of the Russell Family, this painting now carries an estimate of £10,000-15,000.
Measuring 18in x 20in (45.7 x 51cm), this fluently painted composition admirably captures the late autumnal ambience of the woods in an Essex parish. This area was, of course, a well-trodden one for Munnings as his home, Castle House, and studios (now a museum devoted to the artist, Tel: 01206 322127) were at Dedham, about 14 miles away.
