Latest News Articles by Alex Capon
Rare chance to bid for a Velázquez portrait
04 December 2023A large full-length portrait of Isabel de Borbón, Queen of Spain, by the great Diego Velázquez (1599-1660) will be offered at Sotheby’s New York in February.
Even a Bevan study gallops to £18,000 these days
04 December 2023Some notable auction action has been generated by the artist Robert Polhill Bevan (1865-1925) over the last few months.
Modern British works – why it's worth making a fresh start
04 December 2023Cast-iron provenances and first appearances on the market combine to boost value in a Cornish saleroom
Major Old Master emerges as Velázquez portrait of Spanish queen comes to Sotheby’s
30 November 2023A large full-length portrait of Isabel de Borbón, Queen of Spain, by the great Diego Velázquez (1599-1660) will be offered at Sotheby’s New York in February.
Clausen’s nymph found in a family collection
27 November 2023While pictures of young female sitters are not unusual in the oeuvre of George Clausen (1852-1944), ones with mythological or allegorical subjects are distinctly rarer.
Picabia: top pick in a regional sale
27 November 2023A group of Modern and Impressionist pictures provided a significant boost to the latest Art & Design post 1880 sale held at Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium).
Harry Becker in harmony with nature
27 November 2023An auction record for Harry Becker (1865-1928) was set this autumn.
Vivien Gribble worth more than a dabble
27 November 2023Little-known artist tutored by Cedric Morris comes under the spotlight thanks to her portrait of him
‘Profumo Affair’ sketch brings £8500
20 November 2023Stephen Ward (1912-63) will no doubt always be remembered as the man who introduced the model Christine Keeler to the politician John Profumo.
The ‘studio’ works that place forgotten artists in a new light
20 November 2023Works that come to auction directly from artists’ estates often have extra appeal due to a combination of factors.
Four-legged friends help Fulton to a four-year high
20 November 2023The artist Samuel Fulton (1855-1941) painted portraits of people and horses but by far his favourite subject was dogs.
Pownall enjoys atmosphere of nights out in London
20 November 2023Atmospheric views of London were the stock-in-trade of George Hyde Pownall (1866-1932).
Picasso powers ahead to crown New York evening sales
13 November 2023A good crop of top-end Impressionist and Modern pictures lifted the latest flagship series of auctions in New York.
Art Market: Churchyard on cloud £9000
13 November 2023Small sky study sets a new high for works by the artist who was a great observer of nature
Picasso portrait leads sale of the Landau collection at Sotheby’s
09 November 2023A Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) portrait from the early 1930s set the second highest price for the artist at auction as Sotheby’s kicked off its latest fortnight of Modern and Contemporary art auctions in New York.
The wheel deal: Zinkeisen’s unchained melody
06 November 2023Scenes of parks were a favourite topic of artist Doris Clare Zinkeisen (1897-1991) although most of those produced show figures or horses and carriages.
Strong Winifred Nicholson result outside London
06 November 2023A high price for a Winifred Nicholson (1893-1981) picture sold outside the main London rooms came recently in Cumbria.
The name’s Bond: Jane Bond
06 November 2023Jane Bond (b.1939), a costume designer for stage, television and films, started painting portraits especially from the early 1980s onward.
Ethel Walker works stand out in the saleroom
06 November 2023Two of the highest prices at auction in the last 20 years for Dame Ethel Walker (1861-1951) came at Roseberys’ (26% buyer’s premium) latest Modern British & 20th Century Art sale.
Modern and Contemporary art: middle market for 20th century makes a greater impact
06 November 2023Many 20th century works are selling very healthily at mid-range price points