Simon Downham's Top Picks

No.1

Old Master, British and European Art
Lot 62: After Elizabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, Self Portrait of the Artist, Oil on canvas | Est. £2,000-3,000 (+ fees)

"Katy Hessel’s best seller, The Story of Art Without the Men, is an extraordinary reappraisal of the place of women artists in art history. Sparked by the ‘visibility’ of Stanhope Forbes, the Father of the Newlyn School, in the historical accounts compared with his wife, Elisabeth Forbes, we have been seeking to major in our collecting on women artists. I love this self-portrait: a confident and playful representation of the woman artist. Although not modern, I am reminded of Laura Knight’s extraordinary self-portrait in the National Portrait Gallery."

No. 2

Old Master, British and European Art
Lot 169: λ Frank Cadogan Cowper (British 1877-1958), Vanity, Pastel | Est. £20,000-30,000 (+ fees)

"Strong, present, long hair let down, face full on. An enigmatic smile seems to betray not vanity but rather disdain: a knowing refusal of the artist’s gaze. As with the portraits of women by the late Newlyn school painters, Laura Knight and Dod Procter, this painting feels truly modern."

No. 3

Old Master, British and European Art
Lot 182: William Holt Yates Titcomb (British 1858-1930), Gulls at St. Ives Bay, Oil on canvas | Est. £4,000-6,000 (+ fees)

"Our main collection is of Newlyn School paintings. Described in David Tovey’s monograph as a ‘Newlyner from St Ives’, Titcomb captures the beauty and the remoteness and the light that saw so many artists gather in Newlyn and Lamorna. I love the impressionistic rendering of the sea. And that green-blue colour!"

No. 4

Modern and Contemporary Art
Lot 31: λ Sir Jacob Epstein (British 1880-1959), Ralph Vaughan Williams, O.M., Bronze with green patina | Est. £7,000-10,000 (+ fees)

"The Bowerman Charitable Trust is associated most with the promotion of chamber music and it’s recording label Champs Hill Records. This October sees the celebration of 25 years of the Music Room accompanied by our autumn exhibition 'Facing the Music: Portraits and Musical Themes' in the Bowerman Collection. We are exhibiting several wonderful Epstein bronzes, not least another in the edition of this marvellous portrait of Vaughan Williams."

No. 5

Modern and Contemporary Art
Lot 38: Paul Nash (British 1889-1946), Study in Pale Tones: The Pond at Oxenbridge, Iden in Rye, Sussex, Pencil, watercolour and coloured crayon | Est. £8,000-12,000 (+ fees)

"We collect art from Sussex born and Sussex based artists as well as works reflecting Sussex themes. We have a Louise Meyer watercolour of Rye and a Lucien Pissarro oil of fields at Rye. I love this gentle, poetic, romantic, modern landscape art that would be taken on by his pupils and great painters of Sussex, Eric Ravilious and Edward Bawden."

No. 6

Modern and Contemporary Art
Lot 133: λ Augustus John (British 1878-1961), Portrait of Robin, Oil and pencil on panel | Est. £25,000-35,000 (+ fees)

"We have two stunning portraits of another of Augustus John’s sons and Robin’s younger brother, Edwin. I am so struck by the gaze of the sitter: John could really paint eyes, even a gaze. This is where all the meaning is. And I am struck by the clear affection of the artist for his son."

Auction Details

Old Master, British and European Art
Wednesday 9 October, 10.30am BST
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

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VIEWING: 

• Viewing in London (highlights): Tuesday 24 - Thursday 26 September
• Viewing in Newbury (full sale): Sunday 6 - Wednesday 9 October
• Remote Viewing Service: Available from Sunday 6 October
• Dreweatts 360 Virtual Auction Tour | Take the virtual tour

Modern and Contemporary Art
Wednesday 23 October, 10.30am BST
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

Browse the auction

VIEWING: 

• Viewing in London (highlights): Wednesday 9 - Friday 11 October
• Viewing in Newbury (full sale): Sunday 20 - Wednesday 23 October
• Remote Viewing Service: Available from Sunday 20 October
• Dreweatts 360 Virtual Auction Tour | Available from Friday 11 October