Fine Art

Fine art is a staple of the dealing and auctioneering industry, featuring works ranging from Medieval art to traditional Old Masters, and right through to cutting-edge Contemporary art.

While oil paintings represent a large part of the sector, other mediums adopted by artists across the ages include drawings, watercolours, prints and photographs.

Edward Burne-Jones by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Rossetti sketches including Burne-Jones portrait turn heads in Norfolk auction

04 August 2025

Two works catalogued as ‘circle of Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882)’ caught the attention at a recent sale at Keys (25% buyer’s premium) in Aylsham, one creeping over estimate but the other smashing it spectacularly.

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ATG letter: My thoughts on Ethel Walker, John Ward and Prince Charles…

04 August 2025

I always enjoy Alex Capon’s excellent Art Market reports and was particularly interested in the Ethel Walker painting (ATG No 2702), which sold at at David Duggleby’s Scarborough saleroom for an impressive £24,500.

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Sandoz rabbit hops into Kent sale

04 August 2025

Along with Francois Pompon and Rembrandt Bugatti, Edouard Marcel Sandoz (1881-1971) was one of the leading animal sculptors of the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods.

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Ruskin Spear's portrait of Margaret Thatcher bags attention as part of prime ministers picture line-up

04 August 2025

A set of pictures thought to be the largest collection of portraits of British prime ministers in private hands emerged at Sloane Street Auctions (26.5% buyer’s premium) earlier this summer.

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Immerse yourself in John Miller’s art

04 August 2025

Image of room with indoor swimming pool is set to star in second auction staged by Messum’s

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Holy Family from Sacred Heart - but in whose hand?

04 August 2025

Among the Italian Old Masters bringing interest at auctions across the country over the summer was an intriguing painting of the Holy Family that emerged at Lyon & Turnbull (26% buyer’s premium) in Edinburgh.

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Two Churchill maquettes by Oscar Nemon appear at auction seven days apart

04 August 2025

When Clementine Ogilvy Spencer Churchill, the wife of Sir Winston, first saw a now-famous bronze sculpture by Oscar Nemon showing her late husband reclining in his seat, she remarked: “This is how I see him and that is how I love him.”

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Chalençon collection: More than 100 Napoleon lots ride into auction action

04 August 2025

Pierre-Jean Chalençon is well known as an enthusiast for Napoleonic memorabilia and this summer Sotheby’s Paris (27/22/15% buyer’s premium) offered just over 100 lots from his collection.

Francesco Guardi

Global auction sales decline but better results for Old Masters and decorative arts

01 August 2025

The latest art market report by ArtTactic revealed that global auction sales at Christie’s, Sotheby’s and Phillips fell by 6.2% for the first half of 2025.

Portrait of James Stirling

Portrait of first governor of Western Australia reappears at Perth auction

31 July 2025

A dozen years after it was last sold in England, a portrait of Sir James Stirling (1791-1865), the first governor of Western Australia, returned to auction Down Under earlier this month.

Fowey Harbour by Joseph Southall

‘Charming and dream-like’ Joseph Southall picture sails to £30,000 at Tennants

30 July 2025

The highest auction price for Joseph Edward Southall (1861-1944) for eight years came at Tennants (24% buyer’s premium) latest British, European & Sporting Art sale.

Portrait of a girl

Fake or Fortune?: Two Renoirs - or are they?

29 July 2025

The latest episode of Fake or Fortune? featured two separate artworks belonging to different owners purporting to be by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919).

Charleston by Duncan Grant

Bloomsbury pictures come to the fore at York saleroom’s first Modern Art sale

29 July 2025

Three Bloomsbury Group paintings, two by Duncan Grant (1885-1978) and one by Vanessa Bell (1879-1961), lit up the inaugural Modern Art sale at Duggleby Stephenson of York (25% buyer’s premium).

Joshua Johnson portrait

Pair of paintings come to auction from first known black American professional portraitist

28 July 2025

A pair of portraits by Joshua Johnson (c.1763-c.1825), one of the earliest black professional painters in the United States, is coming to auction this summer.

James Webb painting

View of the Louvre adds European flavour to south London sale

25 July 2025

Underlining the potential of artworks still to draw European interest in the post-Brexit market, a good number of pictures brought notable bidding from across the Channel at a recent Roseberys auction.

2704NEDI Dreweatts Loveday English Portrait

Loveday cricket collection pitches in with fascinating early depictions of the game

24 July 2025

After cricket fans have been enthralled by the exciting England vs India test series, bidding as well as batting and bowling will come into play at Newbury auction house Dreweatts.

Deer in a Woodland by Rosa Bonheur

Rosa Bonheur deer study makes 16 times estimate in Surrey auction

23 July 2025

French artist Rosa Bonheur (1822-1899) is described in the Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists as ‘a colourful and formidable character, outspoken in her feminine independence’.

Moon Jug by Ben Nicholson

Jerwood expands collection with Nicholson auction purchase

23 July 2025

Arts charity Jerwood Foundation has purchased another Ben Nicholson (1894-1982) artwork.

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Churchill or not: Fake or Fortune first episode verdict not clear cut 

21 July 2025

The first of six new episodes of the BBC’s 'Fake or Fortune?' had an ambiguous outcome.

Madonna and Child by Antonio Solario

Stolen 16th century painting recovered in Norfolk returns to Italy

21 July 2025

A stolen painting of Madonna and Child by Antonio Solario (1465-1530) has been returned after more than 50 years.

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