Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
Mystery woman sets auction record for artist Harrington Mann
21 August 2023A large and striking 1920s portrait of a young woman drew strong competition at Dreweatts’ (26% buyer’s premium) sale of Anouska Hempel’s collection.
Evelyn De Morgan goes for gold using unusual medium
21 August 2023Trial run for a full worked-up version counts as a highly sought-after picture in its own right
Dreaming spires and a range of other attractions
21 August 2023When it comes to historic views of England’s university cities, bidders’ interest is not only determined by the usual factors such as the calibre of the artist and the picture’s condition.
Old Master sales in London bring good and bad news
14 August 2023Strong results and supply boost the market but challenges remain with bidders highly selective
Aristocratic consignments make a comeback in Old Master auctions
14 August 2023Works coming fresh to the market from British aristocratic sources were once a staple of London Old Master sales.
Cat conveys a sense of calm and domestic comfort
14 August 2023The presence of a cat added commercial appeal to a 17th century portrait of a young girl offered at Bonhams’ latest Old Master sale in London.
Auction record for Helen Allingham set in Malvern auction
07 August 2023Thoughts that the sweet homely watercolours of Helen Allingham (1848-1926) have fallen from favour commercially may be premature, at least judging by the performance of a couple of works sold at a recent regional sale.
Dealer moved by refugees’ plight
07 August 2023Founder of London gallery Agi Katz had personal experience after escaping from persecution herself
Another strong sum for Frederick Gore
07 August 2023A number of strong sums for Frederick Gore’s (1913-2009) richly coloured views of Mallorca and the French countryside have been recorded since his auction record was smashed two years ago.
Fedden and Wain show feline fancy
07 August 2023A couple of cat pictures made bidders’ whiskers twitch of late.
Ewe beauty: naïve painting is star lot at Yorkshire auction
24 July 2023An early 19th century naïve agricultural scene by the elusive Joseph Digby-Curtis (c.1755-1837) posted one of the highest prices for this genre of painting in the last 20 years.
Racing pics in the running once again
24 July 2023There was a time when historic racing pictures by a top name might have been priced close to six figures.
Ben Nevis takes artist back to highs
24 July 2023Like his father of the same name, Thomas Miles Richardson Jnr (1813-90) began his career in Newcastle but he moved to London in 1846.
Artist identified? That’s Joli good
24 July 2023Previously unrecorded view by the Italian scenic painter now joins six others of Naples already known
Art Market: International interest boosts London sale
17 July 2023Olympia Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) reported some significant overseas interest at its latest Fine Paintings, Works on Paper & Sculpture auction with almost a third of buyers from outside the UK.
Pearce peppers up a Penzance auction
17 July 2023In the oeuvre of ‘primitive’ painter Bryan Pearce (1929-2006), still-lifes are significantly rarer than his marine and harbour scenes.
Old Master auction series posts best total since 2017
10 July 2023The latest Old Master auctions in London posted the highest total for a series in this category in the capital since 2017.
Buyer’s premium now raised at all the major players
10 July 2023The flagship London summer sales were the first to take place since the major auction houses all raised their buyer’s premiums in the first half of 2023.
Two hundred years of the Cotmans celebrated as a single collection
10 July 2023Family group at auction offered works by several generations including the renowned John Sell Cotman
LS Lowry work provides a rare pastel purchase
10 July 2023Five original LS Lowry (1887-1976) pictures sold to five different buyers at Tennants’ (22% buyer’s premium) latest Modern & Contemporary art sale.