Keith Vaughan artworks in London sale

March 22, 2024March 22, 2024 admin art, artist, Chiswick auctions, Keith Vaughan

Important and personal works by the late Keith Vaughan from the collection of the man who played a crucial role in preserving and promoting the legacy of the artist come to auction in London on March 26.

The Modern British and Irish Art sale at Chiswick Auctions in London includes a group of 27 lots from the estate of Peter Adam (1929-2019). Part One of the collection was sold by the West London firm in July 2023. 

'Foreshore with Three Figures' by the artist Keith Vaughan — ‘Foreshore with Three Figures’ by the artist Keith Vaughan

Peter Adam, who grew up in 1930s Berlin is best known as a filmmaker, a BBC producer and editor of the art magazines Review and Arena. However, he also championed a number of British and Irish artists and designers. A close friend to Keith Vaughan (1912-77), he was the curator of multiple exhibitions of Vaughan’s work after his death by suicide in 1977. The second tranche of the Adam collection includes oils, studies, drawings, collages and three-dimensional works by Vaughan from across his career. All of which were acquired directly from the artist to his champion and dear friend. 

Bending Figure in bronze by the artist Keith Vaughan — Bending Figure by the artist Keith Vaughan

The collection features several sketchbooks including one with a drawing titled Summer landscape Codford, 1942, estimated at £5,000-7,000 and another from 1951 featuring seven pencil drawings over eight pages, estimated at £4,000-6,000. 

Estimates for a group of a dozen charcoal and pencil sketches range from £400-600 to £1,500-2,000. They include the drawing ‘Study for Linear Group’ (1963) that features the dedication ‘For Clauss Peter from Keith with Love Jan 1, 65. An early self-portrait worked in pen, ink, wash and gouache signed and dated March 17, 1950, is guided at £12,000 – 18,000. 

A 1955 gouache and indian ink composition ‘Two Seated Figures’ is one of two works that were included in the exhibition Keith Vaughan held at London’s Olympia exhibition centre in 2002. The other is ‘Foreshore with Three Figures’ (1963) a prime oil on board measuring 16 x 17 in. (41 x 43 cm.) that was purchased by Adam from Vaughan during their long friendship. They are expected to sell for £8,000-12,000 and £30,000-50,000 respectively. 