Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
Auction house helps seal the deal for Austen letter
27 March 2023Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, Hampshire has acquired a rare early example of a handwritten letter by the novelist after its sale was negotiated by Cambridge auction house Cheffins.
Jane Austen letter goes to her former house in deal brokered by Cheffins
23 March 2023Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, Hampshire has acquired a rare early example of a handwritten letter by the novelist after its sale was negotiated by Cambridge auction house Cheffins.
Brueghel discovery found behind a door comes to auction in France
20 March 2023A version of one of Pieter Brueghel the Younger’s (c.1564- 1638) best-known compositions, 'The Tax Collector’s Office', will be offered at auction after being discovered behind a partially hidden door in a home in northern France.
How notable sitters can cancel out the difficulty of selling traditional portraits
20 March 2023The general theory goes that traditional portraits of white men are difficult to sell unless they are by a major artist or depict a notable sitter.
Atkinson sketches prepared groundwork for Afghan prints
20 March 2023Among the works on paper causing a stir in the regions during the early part of 2023 was a group of four 19th century topographical studies of Afghanistan
Stumped about match location in a sporting scene
13 March 2023Cricket scene could not be clearly identified but approximate date provided strong historical appeal
Gouaches given a seal of approval
13 March 2023A pair of unusual works on paper by the Anglo-American painter George Henry Boughton (1833-1905) struck a chord with bidders at a sale in Somerset.
Turner’s castle emerges in Cambridge saleroom
06 March 2023An early watercolour of Chepstow Castle by JMW Turner (1775-1851) that was previously recorded but its whereabouts unknown has emerged in Cambridge.
Algernon Newton suits the market mood
06 March 2023The naturalistic landscapes and moody urban scenes of Algernon Cecil Newton (1880-1968) have provided a boon to both London and regional salerooms for well over a decade now.
Room bidders back in the Edinburgh mix
06 March 2023Thomson Roddick auction shows sign that room attendances for sales are on the rise.
Restitutions prominent at latest Modern and Contemporary art series
06 March 2023The overall total raised at the latest round of Modern and Contemporary art sales in London was boosted by a couple of recently restituted pictures.
Sensible estimates create the right conditions to sell
06 March 2023A couple of prints by leading names from the early 20th century drew attention at recent regional sales despite some notable condition issues.
Specialists have to vie for vendors in a competitive Old Masters market
27 February 2023Hefty estimates and guarantees suggest a fierce competition in the market when seeking consignments
Christie’s opens new year in New York with full series of Old Masters auctions
27 February 2023The fact that Christie’s held a full series of Old Masters auctions in New York at the start of 2023 not only boosted the overall total for the January series but also added to the amount of activity in this sector generally at this key time.
Angelica Kauffman counted royalty among her patrons
27 February 2023Angelica Kauffman (1741-1807) was one of the most recognised artists of her day with her reputation spreading across Italy, France, Poland and Russia.
London pictured as the Great Fire loomed
27 February 2023A rare vista showing London before the Great Fire of 1666 is on offer at Woolley & Wallis’ sale of Old Masters, British & European Paintings on March 8.
Hogarth among big names at Cheffins
27 February 2023A tiny head study of a lady and her son by William Hogarth (1697-1764) is among the lots on offer at Cheffins’ fine art sale in Cambridge on March 22-23.
Storck naval scene rises to a £52,000 result
27 February 2023A strong contest for a Dutch naval scene was generated at Dorset saleroom thanks in part to the picture bearing the signature 'A. Storck'.
Pair of Flemish family portraits on offer
27 February 2023Dreweatts’ sale of Old Master, British and European art on March 2 includes a pair of portraits by Flemish artist Nicholas Joseph Delin (1741-1803).
Auction record for any rugby shirt as Sir Gareth Edwards’ Barbarians jersey takes £240,000
25 February 2023The rugby jersey worn by Sir Gareth Edwards when he scored what is generally considered the game’s greatest ever try set an auction record when it was knocked down at £240,000 today.