Watercolours

In demand at home and abroad during his lifetime, the eminent miniaturist John Smart was an international draw at a trio of sales.

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

Distinguished naval officer admired by Nelson was also a talented watercolour painter

Sold for £16,000 in a September 23 sale was an album of 41 watercolour studies of birds produced by William Weston Young (1776-1847).

Pescheteau Badin will be offering two unpublished watercolours by the Impressionist Edouard Manet (1832-83) on December 15.

Excellent selection of the artist’s wildlife works had been wrapped up and kept pristine.

Depicting sinewy limbed bearers relaxing beside a mahannah, this work 'Palanquin Bearers at Rest' by George Chinnery (1774-1852) is considered the largest and most accomplished figure drawing of the artist’s long career.

A mount to an ‘Indian school’ ink wash offered by Cuttlestones in Penkridge on September 2 read simply 'G Tagore'.

A group of works by painter, printmaker and war artist Edward Ardizzone (1900-79) was offered at Lawrences’ latest picture sale in Crewkerne, with eight lots coming from the artist’s family.

One of the most-represented names in the Fry collection was William Henry Hunt (1790-1864).

Works by Peter De Wint performed well at both Sotheby’s A Fine Line auction on July 7 and the online sale of Old Master and British Works on Paper from July 2-8.

British watercolours and drawings amassed by dealer came under the spotlight at two salerooms

The Fry collection sold at Chiswick Auctions in London was reminiscent of the kind of auctions the dealer himself would attend

Semley (22% buyer’s premium) earlier this summer sold this portrait of a young boy in profile by Maurice William Greiffenhagen (1862- 1931).

A couple of Modern British works on paper drew keen attention at a recent West Sussex auction.

While Christie’s had by far the top-selling Old Master drawing of the latest series (the £7.5m Leonardo da Vinci drawing of the head of a bear - see ATG No 2501), a good number of other works on paper generated better competition although sold for understandably lower prices.

This late 18th century Indian watercolour view was painted in 1796 by Thomas Daniell (1769-1837).

The Salon du Dessin, the Paris fair dedicated to works on paper, finally staged its 30th edition this month.