For buyers of 19th century British art, this Alfred de Breanski Senior (1852-1928) canvas, The Llugwy from Pont-y-Cyfing Capel, top right, was the main draw, having emerged in untouched condition from a local private source.
The commercially sized 20in x 2ft 6in (51 x 76cm) canvas was fully signed with the title inscribed on the verso and, as such, it predictably doubled its pre-sale estimate of £2500-4000, selling on the telephone at £9200.
However, in terms of the numbers of bidders, if not the final price, there was even more intense competition for a pair of signed Arthur Hayward (1889-1971) oils on board of St. Ives harbour, one shown right, which had been bought by a relative of the vendor from a local St. Ives gallery back in 1942. At 8 1/4 x 9 1/2in (21 x 24cm), these were rather smaller paintings than the Breanski, but again they were totally fresh to the market and this, combined with the fact that they were a pair, the commercial appeal of the subject matter and the current strength of the Modern British market, resulted in at least five telephone bidders pushing the bidding up to £7800 against an estimate of £1500-2500.
Traditional scenes of the times...
THERE was no doubt about which were the two outstanding lots at Hamptons’ (15% buyer’s premium) March 24 picture sale in Godalming.