Strong bidding for pictures in Somerset sale
A recent sale at Somerset auctioneers Lawrences saw some strong bidding for pictures.
Highlights from the 20th-century section of the sale included a watercolour and ink by John Piper CH (1903-1992) entitled Ecole De Font J. Mignon, that made £2,250; an oil on canvas by Ian Faulkner (b.1973) entitled A Good Book and a Bottle of Wine that made £3,250; and another oil, Boy in a Blue Blazer by artist John Melville (1902-1986) that yielded bids above its £400-600 estimate to make £2,500.
From the 19th century, a pair of oils on panel of town scenes in winter and in summer by Adrianus Eversen attracted interest. Adrianus Eversen portrayed the typical 19th-century Dutch atmosphere in his work and the pair made £4,500. Another pair, entitled Vanity and Modesty by George Henry Boughton, RA (1833-1905), gouache on a sanded gilt ground, on paper made £5,500.
From the mid-18th century, a portrait of a young lady by a follower of Thomas Hudson (1701-1779) made £4,750; another portrait of Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich (1625-1672) by after an original by Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680) made £4,000; and a pair of oils on copper of poultry and ducks attributed to Marmaduke Cradock (1660-1716) made £4,500.
From a Private British collection for at least 50 years, a fine oil on canvas of a Venetian scene, simultaneously bustling and elegant, derived from a 1750 subject by Francesco Guardi now in Baltimore. This variant by an imitator was probably painted as a ‘Grand Tour’ memento for a rich British traveller and would have been a graceful addition to a collection in the Georgian era and made £6,250.
The day’s top price was paid for an oil on canvas of a Chinese Sampan Girl of Macao attributed to George Chinnery (1774-1852). This 28 x 23cm lot lifted above hopes of £4,000 to take £12,500.
