Art Market

When coming across a female artist who was once quite recognised but now is rather little known, buyers today automatically ask the question: ‘Is she undervalued?’

Mountainous scenes by Edward Theodore Compton (1849-1921) make regular appearances at auctions in Germany and Austria, where he tended to paint and retains a strong collecting base, as well as in the UK.

Among a number of sporting pictures generating decent interest at recent sales, this autumn Cheffins (24.5% buyer’s premium) posted the highest auction price for the hunting specialist Lionel Edwards (1878-1966) in over 12 years.

George Pol Georghiou (1901-72) is a well-known name in his native Cyprus where his work can be found in many public collections.

A clutch of good-quality traditional landscapes exceeded hopes at Exeter saleroom Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood (25% buyer’s premium).

Tory politician acquired the artist’s watercolours before London dealer raised the profile

Outside the John Patten collection at Lawrences of Crewkerne on October 12 were several other good-quality pictures boosting the bottom line.

The major talking point of Tennants’ (22/20% buyer’s premium) Modern & Contemporary Art sale was the £840,000 seascape by LS Lowry which was the highest total for a picture at the auction house and the second-highest price for any lot ever sold at the saleroom (see ATG No 2565).

Trio of paintings depict life at a long-disappeared family home

Among the works attracting interest at a recent Bellmans (22% buyer’s premium) sale were two pictures formerly in the collection at Shakenhurst Hall.

Works from the 1930s are arguably the most desirable pictures when it comes to Oldham-born artist James Fitton (1899-1982). They just do not appear very often.

Highest price in five years is achieved for Manchester School and Staithes Group artist

Judging by recent events, members of the Conservative Party might well look back longingly to the days of Margaret Thatcher when Britain’s first female prime minister brought a comparative measure of stability to government.

A number of pictures from another single-owner collection caught the eye at Dreweatts a month earlier than the Flaxley Abbey auction.

Naive artworks that can also suit modern decorating taste are rising in popularity and price.

The Danish artist Hugo Vilfred Pedersen (1870-1959) studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen but afterwards spent 12 years travelling around Asia.

Modern British pictures featured prominently among the works dispersed by Sworders this autumn from the collection of Sir Jack Baer.

Views of France, both rural and urban, provided an interesting facet to the sale of the collection of Sir Jack Baer and his wife Diana.

A couple of ballet-related lots danced away for high prices over the summer.

Largest group of artist’s works to be offered was consigned to Essex auction house by daughter.