Comprising landscapes, seascapes, beach scenes as well as, of course, his famously risque depictions of scantily-clad models, the 20 lots in the December 4 Scottish art sale raised a premium-inclusive £184,100, with 15 lots selling.
Lyon & Turnbull said the works were bought by “an interestingly broad range of UK and international private collectors”.
Among the works bringing the most vigorous competition was one of the smallest: a 4½ x 10¼in (11 x 26cm) sketch titled The Silver Frock which depicted his favourite model Cecilia Green in a taffeta dress. The fact that the image was well known, as it later appeared as a popular limited-edition print, raised its commercial prospects further.
Estimated at £15,000-20,000, it sold at £26,000 – not only a solid sum for a Russell Flint watercolour but certainly a hefty price per square inch.
'Jemima' by Sir William Russell Flint – £19,000 at Lyon & Turnbull.
Also bringing demand was Jemima, a 12 x 9in (31 x 23cm) watercolour which the artist had exhibited at Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours in 1964 and given to fellow artist Norman Wilkinson. An inscription on the backboard read: Norman please accept this little watercolour in recollection of our happy friendship of 60 years, Willy.
Pitched at £6000-8000, it was knocked down at £19,000.
