After lengthy bidding on the phones, it sold for more than double its top guide at £48,000. Sharp, who regularly commands five-figure sums at auction, played a significant role in the development of 20th century British art through her use of light, colour and free brushwork.
A typical work executed in Sharp’s impressionistic style, A Summer’s Day depicts two young girls walking through a cornfield. The signed 2ft 6in x 20in (76 x 50cm) oil on canvas had been acquired by the descendant of the vendor from the 20th century dealer Arthur Howell (1881-1956).
“This was an impressive fresh-to-themarket painting by Dorothea Sharp in excellent original condition, ” said Daniel Goddard, head of pictures at BHL.
As ATG went to press, Bonhams was gearing up to offer three works by the artist, including a large coastal scene of children playing by the shore estimated at £60,000-80,000 on March 1.
