Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
Large George Bissill group provides mine of information
24 January 2022A significant collection of works by George Bissill (1896-1973), the Derbyshire miner who enjoyed some fleeting success as an artist in the 1920s-30s but who later died largely forgotten, emerged recently at Mallams (25% buyer’s premium) in Oxford.
Ruskin’s Venice by Moonlight sparkles on Scarborough sale day
17 January 2022Grand Canal sketch has provenance to artist’s student who became a renowned collector
Strachey self-portrait underlines often overlooked talent
17 January 2022Despite his famous name, the artist Henry Strachey (1863-1940) has never had much prominence at auction, with only around a dozen works having emerged.
17th century Dutch print of a beached whale emerges at Surrey auction
17 January 2022In 1602 the Dutch painter and printmaker Jan Saenredam made an engraving of a whale that had been washed ashore near the town of Beverwijk.
Knife birds bronze takes McCrum a cut above in the market
10 January 2022Modern British sculptures were the main attraction at Wotton Auction Rooms’ (18% buyer’s premium) recent sale at Stouts Hill Manor.
William Roberts work rings tubular bells
03 January 2022Trademark colourful picture features people depicted with a distinctive style of limbs.
Park's portrait of wife Peggy impresses
03 January 2022An artist’s painting of his wife turned heads at a recent David Lay (18% buyer’s premium) auction in Penzance, selling over 10 times above estimate.
Knight and Bomberg as war artists
03 January 2022In 1946 the artist Laura Knight (1877-1970) was commissioned by the War Artists’ Advisory Committee to create a painting of the Nuremberg Trials.
Five top paintings sold at auctions outside London this year
28 December 2021Despite the lockdowns, the last 12 months has been a busy time for the art market with plenty of activity witnessed around the country. Here we pick out five of the top picture results at auctions outside London in 2021.
Tantalising sketch gives glimpse ‘of a young Francis Bacon’
20 December 2021Shepeard collection includes a drawing thought to be an unrecorded portrait of the artist
Banksy prints bowl up at auction
20 December 2021Two Banksy prints donated to charity set high prices for their respective individual editions at a Bristol auction.
Bratbys on offer bought direct from the artist
20 December 2021Two works by ‘kitchen sink’ realist John Bratby (1928-92) were offered in the latest picture sale at Olympia Auctions (25% buyer’s premium).
Art rarity: the trade outbids private buyers
20 December 2021A sight increasingly uncommon at auction – the trade outbidding private buyers on key lots of Modern art – occurred a number of times at Sworders’ (25% buyer’s premium) latest sale in this category.
Company School Indian art comes of age
13 December 2021New York dealer chooses ideal time to disperse a select group of works at dedicated auction.
Down Under watercolour prices go way up
13 December 2021Lyon & Turnbull’s (25/20% buyer’s premium) auction to disperse the contents of Lowood House may well be best remembered for the early 16th century maiolica dish which fetched a mighty £1.04m – reported on the front page of ATG No 2513.
Signed by artist or patron?
13 December 2021Among a number of Indian miniatures causing a stir at London sales this autumn was a painting of a camel and its rider.
Getty Museum buys an ‘Elgin marble’ – but not a Greek one
09 December 2021The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angles has acquired an early first-century marble bust of the Roman general Germanicus, the adopted son of the Emperor Tiberius and father of Caligula.
Major jewellery theft from Partridge saleroom
06 December 2021Police are appealing for information following a theft of more than 400 pieces of jewellery, coins and watches from Adam Partridge Auctioneers.
Barns-Graham and her friends
06 December 2021Sale of works owned by the Scottish artist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham reflects strong connections with other St Ives artists.
Jagger portrait captures wartime fortitude
06 December 2021Ever since the auction record for David Jagger (1891-1958) was more than doubled six years ago by the striking portrait The Conscientious Objector, works by the elusive artist have been a highly valuable proposition.