Oil painting

A rare picture painted in India by Arthur William Devis (1762-1822) depicting a group of Bengali weavers was the subject of dramatic competition at Gorringe’s (25% buyer’s premium) spring fine art and antiques sale.

A mixture of leading artist, intriguing subject, ‘prominent’ background and perhaps a bit of speculation helped propel a portrait of an Indian figure to 36 times the top estimate.

Many late 19th and early 20th century art collectors were entranced by Wilhelm Kuhnert’s (1865-1926) realistic portrayals of exotic animals in the wild.

Portrait of Sandwich Islands noblewoman who visited London on diplomatic tour in 1824 appears in Maryland auction

The 438-lot Winter Fine & Decorative Art online-only sale at Bruneau & Co in Cranston, Rhode Island, on January 22 includes this Chinese export oil on canvas depicting the 13 Hongs of Canton (estimate $3000-5000).

A copy of a lost painting that has been described as one of the most haunting and poignant depictions of Irish involvement in the First World War attracted a flurry of bids at Clevedon Salerooms (22% buyer’s premium) in Bristol.

A private collector in London had his work cut out to secure a painting on offer for €2000-3000 at Nagel (29.5% buyer’s premium) in Stuttgart.

A wide range of eastern European works is increasingly attracting strong demand at auction

Although this small oil sketch that surfaced at Oxio Paris (24% buyer’s premium) in Saint-Ouen on November 19 was catalogued as by ‘Howard Hancock’, the signature is clearly that of David Howard Hitchcock (1861-1943).

An auction record for Harry Becker (1865-1928) was set this autumn.

Atmospheric views of London were the stock-in-trade of George Hyde Pownall (1866-1932).

Group of paintings the artistic couple kept at their beloved manor house find new homes after auction

The French portrait painter Jean Baptiste van Loo (1684-1745) received numerous commissions from European royal families and aristocrats.

A dedicated sale of 117 lots from the collection of the late Teesside art dealers and Staithes Group specialists Tom and Rosamund Jordan was held this summer at Tennants (24% buyer’s premium) in North Yorkshire.

What’s best to do with unsold lots… offer them again at half the price guide perhaps?

When 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.

I wondered whether any of your readers can help with this painting, an oil on canvas with signature.

Previously unrecorded view by the Italian scenic painter now joins six others of Naples already known

Family group at auction offered works by several generations including the renowned John Sell Cotman

Signed and dated 'T Beach Pinxt 1793', this portrait depicts the famous Georgian beauty Anne Templar, Lady de la Pole (1758-1832).