The oil on canvas ‘Tulips and Hyacinths’ went to a private buyer against underbidding on the telephone and online.
The price was one of the highest ever at auction for a still life by the artist, although coincidentally a new record for a Wood still life came within hours of the Chorley’s sale when another example fetched £320,000 at Sotheby’s Modern British art evening auction.
The record for Wood currently stands at £340,000 for a view of Treboul Harbour in Brittany that sold at Sotheby’s in June 2003.
“The picture came from a longstanding client of Chorley’s who is absolutely delighted with the result,” said Simon Chorley.
The 1926 painting was estimated at £40,000-60,000 in the Modern Art & Design sale at the Gloucestershire auction house.
‘Tulips and Hyacinths’ was exhibited at the Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts in 1952. It has passed down from its original owner by descent.
Wood (1901-1930) was born in Liverpool. A friend of the Nicholsons, Wood took several trips to St Ives and is known particularly for his landscape paintings.
