Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
Modern British art: An art critic’s own taste tested
06 March 2026Sale of more than 300 works amassed by former journalist for The Times attracts a wide range of interest
Modern British artworks head from Preston to Dorset via a descendant
06 March 2026A group of seven works that were once part of the collection of noted connoisseur and scholar Kerrison Preston (1884-1974) came to a recent auction held by Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Dorset.
Works from ex-Spurs owner Joe Lewis boost Sotheby’s white-glove auction
05 March 2026Four ‘London school’ paintings from the collection of Tottenham Hotspur's former owner Joe Lewis were among the headline lots at Sotheby’s latest Modern & Contemporary art evening sale in London.
Unseen works by Newlyn artist Hunter draw interest in Newcastle auction
05 March 2026A large group of works by George Sherwood Hunter (1846-1919) that had remained in the artist’s family for over a century were dispersed at two sales conducted by Anderson & Garland (25% buyer’s premium) over the last six months.
Terence Cuneo industrial scene brings strong contest in Newbury
03 March 2026When it comes to Terence Cuneo (1907-1996), it’s all about the trains right? Well… not quite.
Gentileschi’s Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy acquired by American gallery
27 February 2026Coinciding with the latest Old Master auction series in New York, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, announced the acquisition of Artemisia Gentileschi’s Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy.
Big hitters of British portraiture who can make widely varying sums at auction
27 February 2026When it comes to the market for two of the biggest names in British portraiture, Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-92) and Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830), the range of prices fetched by works attributed to these two greats is really quite remarkable.
Old Masters look lively as the market shows signs of rising demand
27 February 2026High selling rates, prices beating estimates and decent auction totals suggest the market is in a good place
Best known for railway themes, Cuneo constructed another line of commercial income
27 February 2026When it comes to Terence Cuneo (1907-96), it’s all about the trains right? Well… not quite.
Kent County Council offloads further artworks at auction
26 February 2026Auction house Sworders is selling a second tranche of artworks consigned by Kent County Council.
Reynolds portrait of Princess Diana’s ancestor emerges at Monaco auction
25 February 2026A portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-92) of Lavinia Bingham (1762-1831), Countess Spencer, will be offered at an auction in Monaco next month.
Pictures emerge from attic to serve up a wartime treat
24 February 2026Two pictures by Elsie Gledstanes (1891-1982) that were found untouched in an attic after 40 years drew notable competition at an auction in Hampshire this month.
West London sale provides a showcase of 19th century art style and subject
20 February 2026A handful of Continental pictures representing different strands of 19th century art, including Romantic, Realist, academic and Grand Tour traditions, were among the highlights at Chiswick Auctions’ (26% buyer’s premium) latest sale of Old Masters and 19th century art.
‘Lost’ Jungle Book watercolours head to south London auction
20 February 2026Emerging unrecognised from a London home, two ‘lost’ illustrations from a celebrated edition of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book will be offered at Roseberys next month.
Sotheby’s raises buyer’s premium to 28% at the lower tier
18 February 2026Auction house Sotheby’s has amended its buyer’s premium, raising its baseline rate to 28% for works selling for a hammer price of under £1.5m.
Walter Greaves portrait of his brother Henry turns heads at Dorset auction
16 February 2026Thanks to their artistic bent, the London-born brothers Walter Greaves (1846-1930) and Henry Greaves (1844-1904) are now two of the city’s most famous ever boatsmen.
Michelangelo puts his stamp on latest Old Master sales
13 February 2026The sale of big-ticket lots by artists such as Rembrandt, Canaletto and Michelangelo boosted the overall total at the latest Old Master auction series in New York to a record high.
Sitting comfortably as online bidding boosts number of new year auctions
13 February 2026Along with August, January is traditionally the quietest month in terms of regional auctions.
Rare Antonello da Messina panel sells to Italian government following auction withdrawal
10 February 2026Following the last-minute withdrawal of arguably Sotheby’s headline lot of the latest round of Old Master sales in New York, it has been announced that the rare double-sided panel by Antonello da Messina (c.1430-79) has been acquired by the Italian Ministry of Culture.
Petal power: Eliot Hodgkin study brings ‘extremely wealthy’ collectors to Chichester sale
09 February 2026Berkshire-born artist Eliot Hodgkin (1905-87) is known for his highly detailed still-lifes of natural objects, depicting subjects ranging from fruit and vegetables to eggs and pastries.