Art Market

Records have tumbled in recent years for works by Guyanese artist Aubrey Williams (1926-90), reflecting a growing appreciation for the painter’s output and his contribution to Modern British art.

Successful Scottish art sale suggests significant single-owner groups do not have to be a vital component

Dating back to ancient Egypt and peaking in popularity in western Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries, the ‘singerie’ (French for ‘monkey trick’) is a genre of satirical art depicting fashionably attired monkeys, humorously imitating human behaviour.

Dreweatts’ (26/25/20/12.5% buyer’s premium) single-owner dispersal of items from Bussock Wood on June 4 included significant works from the Modern British canon.

Forming part of a small body of work relating to Malta, this vibrant oil by Julian Trevelyan (1910-88) was the runaway star in a Modern Art & Design sale at Keys (22% buyer’s premium).

‘Charming’ view by the Cornish artist lacking his usual dominant figures takes top spot in Penzance sale

Pictures by two leading women of the Modern British art movement sold strongly at a Lyon & Turnbull (26/25/20% buyer’s premium) auction in London.

Crashing waves are the signature subject of 19th century marine painter David James (1853-1904).

Irish art sales rated as ‘very good’ despite some supply challenges as private collectors wait to consign

Institution based in Aberystwyth purchases five post-war works at regular dedicated Welsh auction

Tristram Hillier (1905-83) described the Surrealist pictures he created at Étretat, the picturesque town on the north-western coast of France, as “some of the best I have ever made”.

The opening section of Duke’s latest Art & Design post 1880 sale was devoted to the ‘forgotten’ artist Kathleen Muriel Scale (1913-2006).

More paintings on offer in Dorest saleroom from the Cornish ‘school’ show the market strength

Result of select offering in London shows a healthy market which now even includes Asian bidders

When it comes to the portraits of the Swiss artist Firmin Massot (1766- 1849), it tends to be depictions of young female sitters shown either full length of ‘jusqu’aux genoux’ (as far as the knees) – a format he often favoured – that attract the most attention commercially.

“It was no surprise that a single-owner sale of noble provenance and with royal connections was such a success”, said Thomas Jenner-Fust.

Marion Richardson (1892-1946), a pioneer of the child art movement, was described as ‘one of the most influential art innovators of our time’.

Despite Peter Barkworth’s very public profile his art collecting was a much more personal matter

A picture by the artist dubbed ‘the Irish Alfred Wallis’ soared above estimate to bring a record at Dublin saleroom Adam’s (25% buyer’s premium).