Peter De Wint landscape from the late 1830s showing the wooded hills near Lowther in Westmoreland – £11,000 at Sotheby's.
De Wint (1784-1849) had been a Cyril Fry favourite ever since the dealer spotted a work by the watercolourist for sale on a pavement stall in Ilford when cycling home – it was one of his first purchases and he paid 10 shillings for it.
The top price here came in the live sale, for a vintage landscape from the late 1830s showing the wooded hills near Lowther in Westmoreland.
An attractive work due to its bold composition, technical quality and fine colouring, the 17¾ x 2ft 2in (45 x 56cm) watercolour over pencil also had a favourable subject: the view depicted is near Lowther Castle on the edge of the Lake District, the seat of one of de Wint’s principal patrons, William, 2nd Earl of Lonsdale.
Estimated at £8000-12,000, it sold at £11,000.
