Latest News Articles by Alex Capon

Rack by John Tunnard

Second tranche of Whitton collection brings further demand for John Tunnard

15 July 2026

While not as lucrative as the ‘select’ first tranche, part two of the Brian Whitton collection of works by John Tunnard (1900-71) at Newcastle saleroom Anderson & Garland (25% buyer’s premium) nevertheless demonstrated a breadth of interest in pictures from across the artist’s career.

Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy

Another Good result in Wimbledon: Rediscovered Old Master sets house record

14 July 2026

A previously unrecorded portrait of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy has set a house record for Wimbledon Auctions (25% buyer’s premium).

Thomas Gainsborough's landscape with donkeys

Fitzwilliam Museum buys early Thomas Gainsborough drawing at auction

10 July 2026

A drawing from the early part of Thomas Gainsborough's (1727-88) career, dating from 1748 when the artist was 20 years old, sold to the Fitzwilliam Museum at Cheffins' latest fine art sale.

Pier Francesco Mola drawing

Christie’s sale of works from London dealer Stephen Ongpin raises £2.51m

08 July 2026

A work on paper by Italian Baroque artist Pier Francesco Mola (1612-66) was among the lots bringing demand at Christie’s sale of works from London dealer Stephen Ongpin.

A portrait of a naval officer by Henry Raeburn

Rediscovered Henry Raeburn portrait brings competition in Cambridge auction

07 July 2026

A previously unrecorded painting by Sir Henry Raeburn (1756-1823) that “slipped through the net of all scholars” led the latest fine art sale held by Cambridge saleroom Cheffins (25% buyer’s premium).

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Cadell fans figure out the added appeal of this Scottish Colourist

03 July 2026

Paintings of elegantly attired female figures hold a special place in the oeuvre of the Scottish Colourist Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell (1883-1937).

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A whisker away from destruction: Louis Wain works emerge from a skip

03 July 2026

While cats might occasionally be seen prowling round a skip, it’s much rarer to spot a painting in such a location by, yes you guessed it, the feline fan’s favourite Louis Wain (1860-1939).

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Striking sitter captures the attention in Brockhurst portrait

03 July 2026

A typically enigmatic portrait by Gerald Leslie Brockhurst (1890-1978) attracted interest at a recent sale at Lawrences (25 buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne in Somerset.

The Hamilton Laocoön

‘A singular miracle in art’: The Hamilton Laocoön generates extraordinary demand at Sotheby’s

02 July 2026

A remarkable bronze cast of one of the most revered ancient sculptures, Laocoön and His Sons, drew fierce bidding at Sotheby’s on July 1 and led the latest round of ‘Classic art’ sales in London.

Henry Pettifer of Christie’s

Christie’s Old Master sale lead by Lawrence’s Duke of Wellington portrait at record £8m

01 July 2026

A well known portrait of the Duke of Wellington set an auction record for Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830) at Christie’s latest Old Master evening sale.

Charles Rebel Stanton painting

Rare view of wartime wreckage sets major auction record for Charles Rebel Stanton

01 July 2026

Charles Rebel Stanton (1887-1954) was a flamboyant and multi-faceted artist. But, although he was something of a minor celebrity in his day, he remains largely unfamiliar to many and has never had a huge presence on the market.

Henry Lamb portrait drawing

Henry Lamb drawing of Bloomsbury artist Dora Carrington quadruples estimate

30 June 2026

A group of lots with a strong whiff of the Bloomsbury Group emerged at a recent auction held at North Yorkshire saleroom Elstob (25% buyer’s premium).

Nu assis au collier by Amedeo Modigliani

Joe Lewis collection sets record for single-owner London auction

26 June 2026

On a sweltering night in the capital, a record was set for a single-owner sale in London as the Lewis collection raised an extraordinary £296.3m total at Sotheby’s.

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Lowry beach scene brings a top art price in west London

26 June 2026

A house record for Olympia Auctions’ (25% buyer’s premium) picture department was achieved in early June when a beach scene by LS Lowry (1887-1976) took an above-estimate £190,000.

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Christopher Wood work adds colour to regional sale

26 June 2026

A notable sum for Christopher Wood (1901-30) was recorded at Gloucestershire saleroom Chorley’s (25% buyer’s premium).

Nu assis au collier by Amedeo Modigliani

Record for a single-owner sale in London as Lewis collection brings heated bidding at Sotheby’s

25 June 2026

On a sweltering night in the capital, a record was set for a single-owner sale in London as the Lewis collection raised an extraordinary £296.3m total at Sotheby’s.

George Frederic Watts portrait

Market fresh Watts portrait emerges in south London auction

23 June 2026

A newly discovered portrait by George Frederic Watts (1817-1904) is among the lots on offer at Roseberys’ sale of Old Master, British & European pictures in West Norwood on July 8.

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Pick of the week: Hockney work sells two days after his death

19 June 2026

Just two days after the artist’s death, a rare and early mixed-media sketch by David Hockney (b.1937-2026), made when he was just 19, brought notable competition at Tennants (24% buyer’s premium)

Water Meadows by Ivon Hitchens

Ivon Hitchens market creates hive of activity

19 June 2026

For those with a commercial interest in the sweeping semi-abstract paintings of Ivon Hitchens (1893-1979), June 2 must have been a pretty busy day.

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Early view: our pick of auction lots on offer this summer

19 June 2026

This summer, a diverse range of noteworthy lots will go under the hammer at auction houses across the UK. Here we turn a spotlight to some of these – from a first vampire novel and Titanic launch tickets to a Duke of Wellington portrait and a Ravilious watercolour