Christie’s October Modern British and Irish Art sales take place in London on 16 (Evening Sale) and 17 October (Day Sale), showcasing the very best of British and Irish art from 1900 to the present day featuring artists including Sir Stanley Spencer, Dame Barbara Hepworth, Patrick Caulfield R.A., Dame Elisabeth Frink, L.S. Lowry R.A., Frank Auerbach, Henry Moore, Lynn Chadwick, and Gwen John.
Highlights include:
Sir Stanley Spencer’s Wisteria at Englefield (1954, estimate: £800,000-1,200,000). Painted over a period of five weeks, this is the third of five paintings commissioned from the artist by Gerard Shiel of his house between 1948 and 1955, and is a meticulously rendered landscape exemplifying Stanley Spencer’s highly intimate painterly style and love of his hometown of Cookham.
L.S. Lowry ‘s Senhouse Street, Maryport (1955, estimate: £700,000-1,000,000). Much larger than the majority of Lowry’s works, this painting stands out for its scale. Lowry rarely painted topographically accurate scenes of identifiable locations, but this view of Maryport remains recognisable today.
Sir Winston Churchill’s Marrakech with a Camel (circa 1954, estimate: £600,000-800,000). This painting was retained by Churchill throughout his lifetime at his home in Chartwell, and subsequently bequeathed to his daughter, Lady Sarah Audley. Churchill first visited Marrakech in 1935, at the insistence of his painting mentor Sir John Lavery. It was there that he was enchanted by the strong light and bold colour that he had not previously experienced.
Dame Barbara Hepworth’s Two Forms (Gemini II) (estimate: £400,000-600,000). Carved in 1966, this sculpture embodies two of Hepworth’s most significant themes: the interaction of two forms, representing the tender relationship between living beings, and the pierced form, a technique she pioneered in the early 1930s. It has been held in the same private collection for over 40 years.
Dame Elisabeth Frink’s Lying Down Horse (1974, estimate: £200,000-300,000) is the only unique large-scale horse by the artist and also her first large-scale bronze of the subject. The piece was once part of the renowned collection of Fran and Ray Stark, which is now housed in The Getty Museum’s sculpture garden alongside works by iconic artists including Moore, Calder, and Hepworth.
Lynn Chadwick’s Beast (conceived in 1953, estimate: £700,000–1,000,000), one of the artist’s largest and most significant unique sculptures, held in the same private collection since the 1950s. Created during the pinnacle of Chadwick’s creativity—between the celebrated Geometry of Fear Venice Biennale of 1952 and his prize-winning moment at the 1956 Biennale, where he triumphed over Alberto Giacometti—the piece was acquired directly from Chadwick circa 1954 by his friend, renowned architect Raglan Squire, and has stayed in the Squire family ever since.
Barry Flanagan’s Thinker (conceived in 1996, cast in 1997, estimate: £400,000-600,000) is appearing at auction for the first time. A rare and unique work by the artist, the sculpture offers a playful reinterpretation of Rodin’s iconic figure by anthropomorphising the hare with human-like qualities. For Flanagan, the hare symbolised life and vitality, drawing from its significance in early British pagan rituals and ancient Egyptian mythology.
An exhibition of the Modern British and Irish Art sales will be open to the public at Christie’s King Street in London from 12 to 16 October 2024.
For further information: christies.com
Image: Dame Barbara Hepworth’s Two Forms (Gemini II) (estimate: £400,000-600,000) © Christie’s
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