Latest News Articles by Alex Capon

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Dealer duo the Hobarts set Irish eyes smiling

06 January 2025

Two sales in London offered personal collection of the Hobarts including artists they had championed

Broadway Barn in Ripley

Surrey auction house to sell single-owner collection from luxury holiday cottage

23 December 2024

Parker Fine Art Auctions in Farnham is selling the collection of the late Melinda (‘Mindy’) McLean, a businesswoman who was a keen patron of the arts and a supporter of young artists.

Martin Wilson of Phillips

Martin Wilson to succeed Ed Dolman as chief executive at Phillips

20 December 2024

Executive chairman of Phillips Ed Dolman is standing down in 2025 and will be succeeded by Martin Wilson.

Barry Humphries

One to watch: Christie’s to offer Barry Humphries collection in 2025

19 December 2024

One of the lesser known facts about the comedian, entertainer and TV personality Barry Humphries was his erudite art collecting.

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Portrait shows mystery black bandsman who went into battle at Waterloo

16 December 2024

An intriguing portrait of a black man in the uniform of a military bandsman and wearing a Waterloo medal drew strong competition after emerging at an auction in East Sussex.

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Hechle takes to the hills and Glasgow auction sets a mountain high

16 December 2024

A group of seven mountainous landscapes by Hilda Marion Hechle (1886-1939) were the subject of a good deal of interest at a recent sale at Great Western Auctions (24% buyer’s premium) in Glasgow.

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Art market: Those were the London Dayes

16 December 2024

Pair of scarce oils by an artist more familiar as a watercolourist emerge at auction in Essex

John Lavery sketch

Lavery's Irish Treaty sketch sells to Dublin gallery at Bellmans

10 December 2024

A signed study for a major work by Sir John Lavery (1856-1941) drew significant competition when it appeared at West Sussex auction house Bellmans (25% buyer’s premium).

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Hepworth’s sculptural exploration of colour and strings barred from export

09 December 2024

A unique sculpture by Dame Barbara Hepworth (1903-75) has been blocked from export following its sale at Christie’s in London earlier this year.

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‘Wantage Botticelli’ sparks fervent bidding to lead Old Master series in London

09 December 2024

The latest series of Old Master auctions in London looked a little thin with the evening sales comprising less than 30 lots, but the series was not without its highpoints.

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Could it be artist Mary Beale by her own hand?

09 December 2024

A bust-length study, thought to be a self-portrait by Mary Beale (1633-99) from the early 1660s, sold above estimate at a recent sale at Parker Fine Art Auctions (25% buyer’s premium).

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It’s the turn of Grimshaw Junior to step into the moonlight

09 December 2024

Son of the famous John Atkinson Grimshaw under focus with two of his own works in the same style

The Virgin and Child enthroned by Sandro Botticelli

Botticelli Virgin and Child bid to £8.6m at Sotheby’s

05 December 2024

A painting known as ‘the Wantage Botticelli’ which emerged from a British aristocratic collection after 120 years drew a strong bidding battle at Sotheby’s latest Old Master evening sale in London.

van Dyck painting

Van Dyck horse portrait tops Christie’s Old Master sale

04 December 2024

An Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) equine painting led Christie’s latest evening sale of Old Masters in London.

Eileen Mayo portrait by Dod Procter

Dod Procter portraits at the double indicate growing demand

04 December 2024

Over the last decade, portraits from the 1920s by Dod Procter (1891-1972) have become increasingly valuable.

Barbara Hepworth sculpture

Barbara Hepworth sculpture from ‘pivotal moment’ in her career blocked from export

03 December 2024

A unique sculpture by Dame Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975) has been blocked from export following its sale at Christie’s in London earlier this year.

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Art collection saved from the flames (twice) comes to auction

02 December 2024

More pieces appear from a collection that survived a couple of devastating blazes at the family home

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Pether depicts a moonlit Venice

02 December 2024

A trademark painting by Henry Pether (1800-80) attracted significant interest and sold for a solid price at Kinghams’ (25% buyer’s premium) latest Fine & Decorative Arts auction.

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Ronner-Knip feline work is catnip to eager collectors

02 December 2024

Pictures by the Dutch artist Henriette Ronner-Knip (1821- 1909) are pretty abundant on the market but the considerable popularity of her characterful feline studies means they are invariably a valuable proposition.

Apples by Cedric Morris

Cedric Morris’ apple painting finds plenty of appeal

29 November 2024

While flower paintings by the artist-plantsman Sir Cedric Lockwood Morris (1889-1982) are now a familiar sight at auction and invariably a valuable proposition, his depictions of fruit and vegetables are equally interesting and vivid.