19th Century British Art

Recent sale results for the Anglo-Indian artist show a sharp rise as topographical views gain popularity

Two views of the same stretch of Cornish coastline by Arthur Hughes (1832-1915) both attracted interest but made contrasting sums at a recent sale at Canterbury Auction Galleries (25% buyer’s premium).

Two religious works were among an intriguing archive of items relating to a famed Falmouth packet ship commander and family that impressed at Lay’s (21% buyer’s premium) auction in Lanner, Cornwall, on August 8.

Appearing at a time of increased market interest in pioneering female artists, a portrait by Elizabeth Cameron Mawson (1849-1939) set a significant new artist’s record at Newcastle saleroom Anderson & Garland (25% buyer’s premium).

Leading several modestly pitched highlights at Ewbank’s (25% buyer’s premium) in Surrey last month was this signed charcoal portrait of a girl by Welsh painter Augustus John (1878-1961).

Cheska Hill-Wood is head of sales at David Messum (Bury Street, St James’s, London) which has a focus on Contemporary art and British Impressionism.

More paintings on offer in Dorest saleroom from the Cornish ‘school’ show the market strength

Strong bidding emerged at Lawrences (25% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne for a Swedish portrait of Ellen Wester (1873-1930), a pioneering female translator and journalist.

Two oils by the Anglo-American marine artist Robert Salmon, painted while he lived and worked in Scotland, were offered by Stair Galleries (28% buyer’s premium) in Hudson, New York, on April 25.

“It was no surprise that a single-owner sale of noble provenance and with royal connections was such a success”, said Thomas Jenner-Fust.

The view described as ‘On the Medway’ (International, ATG No 2640) appears to me to be a view on the River Deben.

An oil on canvas of a German scene was probably on display at Louis Comfort Tiffany's Long Island home, sold in the 1940s.