Firmly attributable masterworks might have been in short supply, but the 30-odd pictures from the house, most of which were bought by an unknown member of the Bailward family in the early 19th century, did have a considerable amount of decorative appeal and they contributed £100,000 – roughly a fifth – of the sale’s overall proceeds.
Most enthusiastically contested of the lots was this 2ft 8in by 2ft 1in (82 x 64cm) canvas of the Virgin and Child attributed to a Follower of Federico Bencovich (1675-1753) which sold to a West Country collector for £17,000 against a typically here-to-be-sold estimate of £1200-1800. Condition was described as “relined, needs a clean, some retouching”.
Heaven from manor – ‘also rans’ help earn a crust
“Good but second-rate Old Master paintings bought for their images rather than their names” was an accurate enough assessment by auctioneer Richard Kay of the pictures on offer in Lawrence’s (15% buyer’s premium) July 16 sale of the contents of Horsington Manor, Templecombe, Somerset on July 16.
