Painting could bring in the punters
Auctioneers are hoping that a work of art by one of the foremost painters of horses will be a runaway success when it goes under the hammer next week.
Lucy Kemp-Welch, recognised as the foremost British painter of horses of her time, is best known for her paintings of horses in military service during World War One and for illustrating the 1915 edition of Anna Sewell's novel Black Beauty.
Now one of her works, a large oil on canvas study of two girls feeding a pony, is coming up for auction at Halls’ fine pictures, silver, jewellery and coin auction on Wednesday (March 22) with a pre-sale estimate for £25,000 to £35,000. The painting measures 111cm by 142cm.
Kemp-Welch travelled to Exmoor in 1908 and produced a series of oil sketches from a studio in Simonsbath. Many were left behind with local people and it was in the 1950s that the sketches were gathered together as a collection by a West Country landowner.
None of the sketches is signed and only one was found to be inscribed with her initials, dated May 16, 1908.
Other works to look out for in the auction include a view over Newlyn harbour by Arthur Hughes (1832-1915). The oil on panel, titled Above Newlyn, was originally sold by Christies as part of a studio sale after the artist’s death and is now valued at £2,000.
Halls also includes a print, which is signed in pencil, by Laurence Stephen Lowry (1887-1976). ‘Mrs Swindel’s Picture’ is valued at around £600.
A collection of 50 maps, amassed over a period of 25 years by Shropshire collector Gordon Hillier, is another attraction for collectors. Highlight is ‘Salopiae Comitatus’, an engraving by Christopher Saxton, which is one of 35 maps of ‘An Atlas of England and Wales’, first edition 1579, valued at around £800.
For more information about the picture section, contact James Forster, head of Halls’ pictures department, on 01743 450700 or visit www.hallsgb.com/fine-art
