Three wonderful pieces of fine art have been consigned to Batemans Auctioneers of Stamford for their upcoming Fine Art, Antiques & Specialist Collectors auction to be held on 7th March.
Spanning five centuries from a Jacobean portrait to an abstract by one of the pioneers of modern art in India, Batemans’ hopes to excite bidders’ interests and realise some spectacular hammer prices for some fantastic art.
Leading the way is the Scottish painter of landscapes, flowers, and foliage, with children, Edward Atkinson Hornel (Scottish, 1864–1933). Having studied at the art school in Edinburgh and for two years in Antwerp he returned in the late 19th century and associated himself with the Glasgow Boys. His home where he lived with his sister, Broughton House, in Kirkcudbright, is now administered by the National Trust for Scotland.
This painting titled ‘May Blossom’ is typical of his atmospheric impasto style with two young girls playing amongst flowering trees was painted in 1919 just after the close of WWI; it is estimated to sell at £10,000 - £15,000.
Sadanand Bakre (Indian, 1920-2007) is widely heralded as the pioneer of modern art in India was a founder of the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group. He was a painter and sculptor, moving to Britain in 1951 where he concentrated on painting and had sold his artwork from art dealer Nicholas Treadwell’s gallery in a touring double-decker bus known as ‘Nicholas Treadwell's Mobile Art Gallery’.
It was purchased by the vendor from a market in the South of England and eventually brought in to Batemans to investigate when discovered to potentially be of importance – they had bought it because they really liked it – but might well have struck gold!
Titled to the back of the canvas ‘Landscape 63’ also with the artist’s address at the time, it is a brightly colourful display using broad applications of paint in a highly confident manner. It is estimated to sell at £3,000 - £5,000.
Thirdly but perhaps most excitingly is a breath-taking bust length portrait on oak panel that was painted over 500 years ago. The inscribed date of 1611 is the time of English King James I and the Renaissance across Europe.
With provenance and original invoice for £1800 to a Christie’s Old Master Pictures Sale in 1981, there has followed an attribution to Frans Pourbus The Younger (Dutch, 1569–1622). He worked for many of the highly influential people of his day, including the Brussels-based Spanish Regents of the Netherlands, the Duke of Mantua and Marie de' Medici, Queen of France. In 1600 he was recruited the court painter in Mantua by Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, and it is this link that gives a possible identity to the sitter. Catalogued in Batemans’ upcoming sale as ‘Portrait of a Noble Woman, it is thought that it might depict Margaret (Margarita) Gonzago, Duchess of Savoy, whose mother was Eleonora de’ Medici and her father Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua. She married Henry II, Duke of Lorraine in 1606, who was bother-in-law to Henry IV of France.
The richness and quality of her jewels and embroidered clothing mark her as part of the very highest echelons of society and almost certainly with Royal connections. Tantalising clues in the motifs on her silk dress, pink ribbons, and the display of baroque pearls might point to another sitter but as the artwork is untitled the jury is still out. In an amusing slightly erroneous description the Christie’s catalogue describes it as ‘Portrait of a Nobleman, wearing a white dress…’.
Rarely coming onto the market, and one of the best examples ever seen at Batemans, early 17th century portraits have a passionate following and hopes are high; it is estimated to sell at £5,000 - £8,000.
To enquire about any of these lots please contact us on 01780 766466 or info@batemans.com
To consign items please contact us on 01780 766466 or valuations@batemans.com and have a look at our SELLING page.
