Art Market

Try original advertising artwork if you want to capture the atmosphere of an era.

Focus on 19th century works by continental European artists sold recently

A Spanish picture that had been in the same family for at least the past 120 years was among the works bringing demand at Bonhams’ (27.5/25/20/14.5% buyer’s premium) latest sale of 19th Century and British Impressionist Art.

Among the works by 19th century Italian artists generating interest at recent UK auctions was a landscape by Giovanni ‘Nino’ Costa (1826-1903).

A woodland scene by Hungarian painter Bertalan Pór (1880-1964) caught the eye of a number of bidders at a Cotswolds saleroom.

When people think of the Newlyn School, most commonly it is pictures of Cornish fishermen, farmers and miners that spring to mind.

Street view by British artist offered in Orientalist sale sells at four times estimate

In February 2020 Lancashire saleroom Gerrards (20% buyer’s premium) sold a watercolour by Trinidad’s first internationally known artist, Michel-Jean Cazabon (1813-88), for £24,000 (see News, ATG No 2430).

Investors are targeting the Post-war and Contemporary market for high returns as inflation soars and uncertainty reigns

The expansion in prices for David Hockney (b.1937) has affected not just his large and famous works which now sell for multi-millions but also his smaller drawings and printed works that fall further down the price scale.

A small work by Maggi Hambling (b.1945) was among the pieces of Modern and Contemporary art attracting interest recently at Parker Fine Art Auctions (25% buyer’s premium).

Dreweatts’ (25% buyer’s premium) Modern & Contemporary Art sale on March 16 was led by some distance by the rare lead Mother and Child sculpture by Henry Moore (1898-1986) which was bid to £320,000 (see News, ATG No 2535).

Interest from both trade and private buyers helped set an auction record for Paul McPhail (b.1966) at Sworders’ (25% buyer’s premium) latest sale of Modern and Contemporary art.

Not all Contemporary art has to be either abstract or wacky.

Contemporary African art was a topic of discussion at last month’s The Art Business Conference in London.

William Gear (1915-97) is among the Modern Scottish artists whose work regularly appears at auction.

One of the highlights at the timed online of Modern and Contemporary Art Auction at Halls of Shrewsbury, which closes on May 2, is a large painting of sunflowers by John Bratby (1928-92).

Scottish artist Joseph Farquharson (1846-1935) is best known for his snowy landscapes with sheep that earned him the nickname ‘Frozen Mutton Farquharson’.

Two views of historic British landmarks by John Martin (1789-1854) attracted interest in different parts of the country.

Group of 12 offered in Cambridge saleroom comprised mainly 18th century British works