Paintings Auctioned for Clients in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset

Published 25th April 2012

The April 2012 Fine Painting sale was a great success with over 90% of the lots selling, many for clients in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. A group of ten Archibald Thorburn watercolours and drawings from two different collections in Somerset and Devon all sold for a total in excess of £17,000; the most popular being the unmistakeable Snipe Amongst Grasses at £4,200.

Archibald Thorburn: Snipe Amongst Grasses

Snape Amongst Grasses by Archibald Thorburn realised £4,200. We had ten Archibald Thorburn watercolours from two different collections in Somerset and Devon.

Amoung a group of pictures consigned by a client in Cornwall, we pulled-out a charming little watercolour by Indian artist Kattineri Krisha Hebbar. The Cornish client was unsure how it had come into his possession; but it was picked-up on the Internet by a major gallery in Mumbai who were the successful buyers at £600.

A Kattineri Krisha Hebbar watercolour sold for £600 for a client in Cornwall.

Of Cornish interest were views of Fowey and Polperro Beach by Fred Yates and a proud Penzance Fishing Boat by John Miller. These sold for £1,100; £1,950 and £1500 respectively. And a group of paintings with a Continental connection which came from an estate in South Devon caused great interest before the sale; these were a view of a French Chateau by Jean Hippolyte Marchand, a view near Swiac in the Dordogne by Henry Lamb and an Italian Landscape by Reginald Brill.

A view of Polperro Beach in Cornwall by Fred Yates that fetched £1,950 at auction.

It was encouraging to see signs of recovery in the interest and demand for Traditional Paintings, particularly 19th Century British paintings. Two huge (95 x 140cm) William Widgery canvases look good value at £1,500-£1,700 each, but in terms of the recent market it was satisfying for the vendor to achieve a successful sale.

A huge canvas by Devon-born artist William Widgery realised £1,700.

One last highlight was a beautiful miniature by George Engleheart which was conservatively catalogued and estimated. The miniature collectors were in no doubt about its original and charm and it fetched £2,500.