Town and country appeal
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Two archetypal views of urban and rural England attracted bidders at Mallams in Cheltenham on May 29. An early work of an iconic london view, St. Paul’s Cathedral and london Bridge painted from the South bank in 1793 by Thomas luny (British, 1759-1839), led the day. Sold from the n. R. Omell galleries in the 1960s, it had been in private hands ever since so benefited from both a solid private provenance and being fresh to the market. despite being relined and cleaned during the 1960s, the painting attracted interest from both trade and private bidders and wend comfortably over its £6,000-8,000 estimate to sell at £11,500 on the phone to a British dealer. A somewhat small church featured in a pen, ink and watercolour by John Piper (British, 1903-1992). Entitled northleach, January 1946, the view of the village near Cheltenham, was, again, fresh to the market, coming from an elderly lady from Cheltenham. The local connection boosted private interest and it sold to the trade for £7,000. (Anna Brady, The Antiques Trade Gazette, 21st June 2008) |