Roseberys- Stunning Family Portraits lead Old Master Sale

Roseberys- Stunning Family Portraits lead Old Master Sale

 A grand selection of stunning family portraits are primed to whip up some excitement in the sale of Old Master, 18th & 19th Century Pictures at Roseberys London. The collection of astounding portraits that have spent their history being handed down a family tree will be presented to the market for the first time on Wednesday 23 September. The portraits in question are from lots 1 – 12 and are from the same UK private collection. The overall sale compromises of 315 lots in total, ranging in prices, styles, genres and mediums, spanning decades by various old masters from around the globe. 

Marcus Grey, Head of the Pictures Department comments on the upcoming auction ‘With our expanding interest and specialisation in 16th and 17th Century European Portraiture we are very pleased to be offering a collection of 13 portraits from a private collection, all being newly presented to the market, having been passed down from generation to generation since their conception. Following on from our successful sale of 17th – 19th century paintings in our last auction in June we have seen an influx of high-quality portraiture over the last few months which will be presented on the 23rd September. The strong presence of portraiture in this auction also coincides with the sale of the private collection of John Abbott, the nephew of Roger Abbott, who with Eric Holder founded the partnership of Abbott & Holder, now Abbott & Holder Ltd., the well-known London gallery. The works being sold in this collection give every buyer the opportunity to invest in works on paper by renowned 18th and 19th century artists, all with excellent provenance. We are also very excited to be offering a newly discovered landscape by Alexander Nasmyth, previously unidentified, but now confirmed by Lady Poppy Cooksey.’ 

 

Lot 2: William Tillyer, British b.1938- Untitled, 1980

Leading the portraits in the auction coming from the private collection is lot 4 estimated to make £8,000-12,000. Lot 4 includes two oils, one on canvas and one on oak panel, by Dutch artist Jacob Frans van der Merck, c.1610-1664. The sitters of the portraits Ludwig Ziegler (1608-1681) and Elizabetha Margaretha Spina (1626-1702) are believed to have been married, with three sons and four daughters. Born in ‘S-Gravendeel around 1610, the artist Jacob Frans van der Merck was apprenticed in Delft, and subsequently worked in The Hague and Leiden, producing works spread across multiple genres, including portraiture, still life and genre scenes, all completed in the distinctive Dutch manner of the period. The present paintings, although similar in composition and technique, were likely to have been produced at different times during the artist’s career due to one being completed on panel and the other on canvas. According to records van der Merck was a member of the painters’ guild in Dordrecht from 1640 to 1649, so around the time these portraits were painted. These engaging portraits display his highly accomplished and realistic technique much sought after during the period. 

 

Richard Smith CBE, British 1931-2016- Bucklee, 1972

Coming from the same private collection of portraits is Lot 2 . The German School oil on canvas late 16th century portrait of Christoff zum Lamm is estimated to sell for £2000-4000. The zum Lamm family are known to have been a noble family living in Speyer, Germany, during the 15th and 16th centuries. Records state that Christoff zum Lamm born c. 1560 worked for the Reichskammergericht in Speyer (the Imperial Chamber Court); the highest court of the German Empire of the period. Katharina’s grandfather, Markus, and great uncle Dr. Heironymus zum Lamm (depicted in the other German School portrait lot 1 included in this sale) had also worked for the Reichskammergericht in Speyer with their professions being lawyers and counsellors to the court. 

 

Charles Henry Sims RA RWS, British 1873-1928- Pastorale

Estimated to make £3,000-4,000 is lot 133 the ‘Rear view of John Wilson’s new house, Elleray’, oil on canvas by Scottish artist Alexander Nasmyth, RBA. As well as being an artist, Alexander Nasmyth was frequently asked to view his patron’s landscapes, and ask for help to improve them, or to build a new property or extend an existing one. 

Sir Stanley Spencer CBE RA, British 1891-1959- Portrait of a girl

 

 

Another artwork coming from a Scottish artist and peer of Alexander Nasmyth is lot 134 by George Watson PPRSA,1767-1837. Portrait of Janet (Jessie) Ruskin, c. 1805 pictured above is thought to depict the leading English art critic John Ruskin’s aunt, Janet Ruskin (1783-1828). The present portrait is likely to have been executed around a similar time to Watson’s portrait of John James Ruskin; the brother to the sitter and father to John Ruskin, held by The Brantwood Trust, Coniston. Watson was initially based in Edinburgh where he was introduced to fellow Scottish artist Alexander Nasmyth, however at 18 years old he decided to relocate to London where he was received as a pupil of Sir Joshua Reynolds. After two informative years in Reynold’s studio he returned to Edinburgh and established himself as a portrait painter by the end of the 1780s. Watson eventually went on to be one of the founding members of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1826 and its’ first president. The exquisite oil on canvas is estimated to make £4000-6000 at auction. 

 

The pair of oils on canvas (lot 144) depicting wooded landscape with figures, cattle, cottages and distant hills attributed to Flemish artist Jan Baptiste de Jonghe, 1785-1844 are estimated to make between £3,000-5,000. Jan Baptiste de Jonghe was a painter, draughtsman, etcher and lithographer, but was predominantly known for his Romantic landscapes and city views. Following similar formats to Dutch 17th Century landscape painting, de Jonghe’s early compositions were mostly taken up by sky, and were comparable to the works by Jan van Goyen (1596-1656). It is possible that de Jonghe would have completed the landscapes of these two paintings before entrusting Eugène Joseph Verboeckhoven (Flemish 1798-1881) to paint the staffage, a common practice he employed in his artistic career. Verboeckhoven was an accomplished painter of animals and appears to have been one of the last artists of a tradition that begun in the 17th century which linked observation of nature, studied composition, and idealised reproduction of reality. 

 

Therese Oulton, British b.1953- Heresies No.1, Opus316

 

Among the other highlights on sale is this portrait of a women’s head by British artist Henry Holiday, 1839-1927. The soft pencil on paper is estimated to sell for £2000-3000. The present work is part of a much larger private collection owned by John Abbott, which is being offered in the sale. The majority of these works from John Abbott’s collection are on paper and are by largely prominent British artists of the 18th and 19th centuries. This elegantly drawn portrait is one of the highlights of this collection, presenting the opportunity to own a drawing linked to the renowned Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Through his friendship with Albert Moore and Simeon Solomon, Holiday was introduced to the artists Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris. These artists were to be pivotal in his future artistic career, and after spending considerable amounts of time in the studios of Burne-Jones the influence of his work can be seen in Holiday’s drawing and paintings. 

 

The oil on panel pictured above ( lot 143 ) depicting the outskirts of a Dutch town, is by Dutch artist Fredericus Theodorus Renard, c.1800. Fredericus Theodorus Renard was a topographical artist from Amsterdam who painted in the style of Hendrik Keun (1738-1787), Jacob Cats (1741-1799) and Isaac Ouwater (1750-1793). These Dutch landscape painters from the late 18th century painted mainly after prints by Jan de Beyer (1703-c. 1785), Pieter van Liender (1727-1779) and Hermanus Pieter Schouten (1747-1822). This particular work is possibly an early work by the artist displaying a closely cropped scene of a town in a woodland. The artist’s work ranges from romanticised rural landscape to topographical compositions, often set in Amsterdam or its environs. The detailed depiction of the houses in this work indicate the portrayal of a specific location. It is entered into the market at £3000-5000. 

 

 

 

Lot 226, Study of men, by Hungarian artist Mihály Munkácsy, 1844-1909, in pencil is estimated to sell for £800-1200. Munkácsy today is considered to be the main contributor towards the rise of Hungarian art, and a significant member of the development of 19th century European art. He earned international reputation with his genre pictures and large-scale biblical paintings. In 1865, Munkácsy studied at the Academy of Vienna under Karl Rahl, before studying at the Munich Academy in 1866. In 1868 he moved to the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf to study with the popular genre painter Ludwig Knaus. This sketch is typical of the artist’s style. 

 

The Old Master, 18th & 19th Century Pictures Auction will take place on the 23rd of September starting at 11.00 AM BST. To see more about the auction or to register please click here.

 

For further information please contact Peigi Mackillop [email protected] +44 (0) 20 8761 2522 

 

For more information about Roseberys, CLICK HERE

 

Freeman’s- Auction To Feature Leaf From Gutenberg Bible

Freeman’s- Auction To Feature Leaf From Gutenberg Bible

Freeman’s is pleased to announce its inaugural Ritual and Culture auction, to take place in Philadelphia on Wednesday, September 23 at 10:00 AM EDT. Celebrating the richness and diversity of global cultures, this sale includes objects and works of art from Africa, Asia, medieval Europe, and the Americas, with some pieces dating back to antiquity.

 

Works were hand-selected across categories by Freeman’s specialists. Together, they explore the human desire to understand the universe through religious expression and artistic creation. This eclectic event encourages both lifelong and emerging collectors to adopt a more fluid and personal approach to how they add new pieces.

 

With an emphasis on traditions and ceremonies, Freeman’s will present objects, artifacts, texts, and codices relating to deities, hagiography, storytelling, bodily practices, cultural transmission, and our relationship to animals and nature.

 

GOTHIC SCULPTURES, A LEAF FROM THE FIRST BOOK PUBLISHED IN THE WEST, AND A NATIVE AMERICAN WAR RECORD

French and Burgundian Gothic sculptures from a private New York City collection are among the event’s highlights. These pieces were privately evaluated in 2011 by the late Théo-Antoine Hermanès, the noted Swiss medievalist and conservator.

Coming from that collection is a large, 15th century Burgundian carved limestone portal or funerary figure, which likely represents Saint Catherine of Alexandria (Lot 7, $10,000-15,000). This piece was once believed to depict the “Pregnant Virgin,” likely due to the low-slung, protruding belly.

Also notable from the collection is a life-size limestone bust of a kneeling man, possibly Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathea from the late 15th/early 16th century (Lot 10, $8,000-12,000). It is carved from the iron-veined limestone of the Strasbourg region and crafted in the manner of the master of Strasbourg Cathedral, Hans Hammer.

From the same collector also comes a life-size Egyptian Late Period bronze figure of a seated cat, circa 664-332 B.C.E. (Lot 3, $30,000-50,000). In Ancient Egypt, cats were associated with the goddess of pregnancy and childbirth, Bastet. This piece has not been to market since it was acquired at Sotheby’s New York nearly 40 years ago.

 

 

Fifteen incunabula, or books printed before 1500, will also be featured. This is headed by a leaf from the first printed book in the West, the Gutenberg Bible, circa 1450-55 (Lot 26, $40,000-60,000). This leaf was part of a defective copy from the Munich Royal Library’s collection. In 1832, English diplomat Robert Curzon purchased it, and bookseller Gabriel Wells broke it up to sell as individual leaves in 1920.

Also included in this auction will be a Great Plains pictographic War Record from the Lakota or Kiowa from circa 1880 (Lot 46, $30,000-50,000). This artifact was purportedly collected by First Lieutenant Harry Gibbons Cavenaugh (1843-1919) of the 13th Regiment U.S. Infantry at Fort Robinson, Nebraska in the 1880’s.

 

 

AFRICAN MASKS AND ARTIFACTS FROM THE COLLECTION OF THOMAS MCNEMAR
Freeman’s is especially pleased to offer as part of this sale The Collection of Thomas McNemar, which features nearly fifty lots of African masks and artifacts of ritual significance, as well as a larger group of highly decorative works.

Thomas McNemar was a prominent collector and gallerist, specializing in the arts of West and Central Africa. After building his own collection, he established the McNemar Gallery on East 50th Street in New York, and, later, another in San Francisco. He also acted as a consultant for major sales, including the seminal Helena Rubinstein sale at Sotheby’s Parke-Bernet in 1966.

Highlights from the McNemar Collection include a carved wood and kaolin Mbole Yela mask from the Democratic Republic of Congo (Lot 138, $3,000-5,000) and a large collection of carved wood Guro, Jimini, Senufo, and Baule heddle pulleys from Côte d’Ivoire (Lot 109, $3,000-5,000).

 

FINDING A NEW COMMON GROUND: FREEMAN’S THEMED AUCTIONS
The Ritual and Culture sale is the latest in Freeman’s new themed auctions. These invite collectors to consider how an idea, concept, or passion manifests itself across different art categories. Other upcoming themed auctions include  Age of Exploration: Travel & Discovery on October 14th and ELEMENTS: Earth & Fire on October 21st.

CONSIGNMENTS WELCOME

This year’s Pennsylvania Sale is still open for consignment. If you have a piece that would make an exemplary addition to the event, please contact Tim Andreadis at [email protected] with more information about your property.

 

AUCTION

September 23 | 10 am EDT

HEAD OF SALE

Tessa Laney,

[email protected]

 

 

PRESS INQUIRIES

Madeline Hill | [email protected]

 

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON FREEMAN’S CLICK HERE.

H&H Classics- Iggy Pop’s Rare Chiaro Blue Ferrari

H&H Classics- Iggy Pop’s Rare Chiaro Blue Ferrari

Iggy Pop's Ferrar H & H Classics Auction

The next H&H Classics Live Auction Online on September 16th includes a rare Chiaro Blue 1984 Ferrari 308 GTS QV, the history file for which suggests that it was owned between 1998 and 2002 by Iggy Pop – the famous American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor. Estimated at £20,000 to £30,000, the two-seater is believed but not warranted to have covered some 61,800 miles from new.

James Newell Osterberg Jr, better known as Iggy Pop, was designated the “Godfather of Punk”. He was the vocalist and lyricist of influential proto-punk band the Stooges, who were formed in 1967 and have disbanded and reunited multiple times since.

 

As an aside, Tim Stanford learnt his craft from Richard Cressman who was not only a founder member of Ferrari’s North American Racing Team (NART) but also responsible for opening Florida’s first Ferrari dealership, Cressman Foreign Cars Inc.

Fitted with a reconditioned steering rack at an indicated 44,217 miles during August 2003, the two-seater was treated to a new air-conditioning blower and cambelts the following year. The interior was refreshed by Peppy’s Auto Trim & Upholstery Inc of Naples, Florida at a cost of $4,770 in January 2010 and the cambelts reportedly changed again the next year at c.50,000 recorded miles. Mr Linardakis sold the Ferrari to Georgia-based lawyer Norman ‘Chip’ Gerry who had it maintained by Sports Car Service of Snellville.

Rare Chiaro Blue Ferrari 308 Gts QV

New oil hoses costing $1,052.84 were installed in November 2011, while work undertaken during 2012 encompassed: new water pump and cambelt tensioner bearings; a new hose between the fuel tanks, new Koni shock absorbers all round, fresh rear anti-roll bar bushings, replacement front ball joints (x4) plus a new Sanden 508 air-conditioning compressor (one of the associated bills totals $6,661.90 and quotes a recorded mileage of 55,638).

Benefiting from a new distributor oil seal and refurbished alternator in 2013, 2014 saw the 308 gain new stainless steel brake lines, fresh brake pads and overhauled brake callipers all round (the corroborating invoice totals $3,479.21 and lists the indicated mileage as 59,995). The last American bill on file is for two new Bridgestone tyres and a four-wheel alignment. Purchased from America by the vendor in 2016, the two-seater was UK road registered as ‘B762 HFE’ the following year. Interestingly, the V5C Registration Document gives the date of first registration as 01/01/1985 (January 1st is often chosen when an imported vehicle’s exact first date of registration is unclear). Regularly MOT tested during the current ownership but sparingly driven, the Ferrari’s odometer now shows some 61,800 miles.

 

Damian Jones of H&H Classics says:

“The car started readily upon inspection and remained untemperamental during our recent photography session. The Ferrari is now overdue a cambelt change and would doubtless respond to further fettling. There are imperfections to the paintwork but the car’s overall appearance is presentable. A decidedly inexpensive entry to Ferrari ownership with a fascinating back story. What’s not to love especially if you have a ‘Lust for Life’?”

 

FOR MORE PRESS INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT THE H&H CLASSICS PRESS OFFICE:

Julian Roup ON +44(0)7970563958

OR email [email protected]

FOR MORE PRESS INFORMATION ABOUT H&H CLASSICS CLICK HERE