Victorian & Traditionalist Pictures

Christie's sales in this category comprise a rich and colourful variety of themes and styles - from Pre-Raphaelitism and Neo-Classicism, to genre painting, social realism and British Impressionism, with a particular emphasis on the Newlyn School.

Christie's has been the market leader in this field for over a decade, with sales held in our St. James’s rooms in June and December, supported by two further sales at our recently refurbished South Kensington salerooms. Our 2003 sale of The Forbes Collection of Victorian Pictures & Works of Art, the finest collection of Victorian art to appear at auction in the last 60 years, totaled just under £17 million ($27 million) and set 65 new world auction records.

Combined sales in 2007 realized £10.1 million ($21.21 million), with John William Waterhouse’s The Soul of the Rose securing £1.14 million ($2.394 million). As well as establishing record and exceptional prices for artists including Millais, Clausen, Knight, de Laszlo, La Thangue, Waterhouse and Burton Barber in 2007, Christie’s also staged the highly successful sale of The Christopher Wood Collection which realised £1.361 million ($2.859 million).

Most recently, Christie’s June 2008 sale secured a number of exceptional prices, including £1.777 million ($3.481 million) for Albert Joseph Moore’s Jasmine (world record for the artist at auction), £433,250 ($848,677) for Sleeping Beauty by The Hon. John Collier (world record price for the artist at auction) and £457,250 ($895,690) for Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones’s Triumph of love. The event confirmed Christie’s position as market leader in Victorian & Traditionalist art, with market domination against our nearest competitor by a significant 61% to 39%.

Please do not hesitate to contact one of the specialists in the department if you would like a valuation for sale, insurance or probate.

More British & Irish Art Departments:
British & Irish Art
20th Century British Art
British Art on Paper

See also:
British & Irish Art Articles

Upcoming Sales from this department

Full Auction Calendar

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