The 90-lot auction, which was 84% sold, was held on January 11 and included traditional equestrian, hunting and shooting scenes alongside wildlife and ornithological subjects and dogs in art.
A striking portrait of a grey horse in its stable by Anthony de Bree (1855-1921) was the sale’s top lot. The 19 x 23in (49 x 59cm) oil on canvas had also been relined, cleaned and re-varnished. It sold to a private buyer based in the north of England for £8200.
The price is among the higher prices achieved for the artist at auction.
High fliers
Southern Ocean with Great Shearwaters by Keith Shackleton – £7200 at Tennants.
Another multi-estimate seller was a bird painting by wildlife artist Keith Shackleton (1923-2015), a relation of the great arctic explorer Ernest Shackleton. The artist is best known for his vast canvases of wild marine birds.
Estimated at £700-1000, Southern Ocean with Great Shearwaters at Tennants was a signature work which came in very good condition. It was knocked down to a private buyer from the south of England for £7200.
Half a dozen animal sculptures from the estate of sculptor Sally Arnup (1930-2015) attracted ‘international interest’ to sell for a combined £20,000. The financial highlight, secured above the estimate for £4000, was a 21in (54cm) high bronze of a seated bloodhound.
Further sculptures from the York artist will be included in the Modern & Contemporary Art Sale on February 29.
The January 11 top lot was a Portrait of Sir Francis Grant on Grindal by John Ferneley Snr (1782-1860), which sold on bottom estimate for £15,000. The work had been left unsold against a higher estimate when offered at another provincial auction last April.
