A touching portrait of a young girl has been purchased for posterity at auction by the grandson of the artist who painted it decades ago.
And despite paying more than seven times its top estimate of £80, the buyer says he is delighted to have secured a work which celebrates the talent of John Archibald Alexander Berrie.
The 20th century oil on canvas of a solemn little girl in a blue and white dress was signed by British artist Berrie (1887-1962). It sold for £580 in Hansons Auctioneers’ Period Paintings Auction on November 3, 2021.
It was purchased by Paul Bonham who said: “It amazes me how portrait artists such as my grandfather John A A Berrie can create perfect perspective and perfect likeness when applying paint to a flat surface!
“I hope to add to my collection of his works and, with each acquisition, I feel delighted and privileged.”
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “I’m so pleased to see this painting return to a member of the Berrie family where it will always be treasured. He was an artist who specialised and excelled in portraiture. For example, he painted a portrait of Sir Winston Churchill and a former Sheriff of Lichfield, Harold Dutton Podmore, in official dress.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL AUCTION RESULTS
“His paintings have sold at multiple auctions for many years. They have realised prices ranging from under £100 to many thousands of pounds, depending on the size and nature of the painting. Judging by this result, demand appears to be growing for his work.”
Berrie was born in Manchester, Lancashire. He studied at Bootle Art School, Liverpool, and in London and Paris. Though portraits were his signature works, he also painted landscapes, flowers and animals.
“There is a gentleness and sincerity to his paintings which make them compelling,” said Charles. “He often painted children and the oil Hansons sold was a particularly nice example.
“It was one of many successes in our Period Paintings sale which attracted strong interest worldwide, particularly when it came to classical Italian offerings.”
One example of a painting with Italian pedigree was, lot 29, a landscape with figures among classical ruins by a follower of Giovanni Paolo Panini (Italian, 1691-1765). It sold for £1,000 from a £300-£500 estimate.
Then there was lot 45, entitled ‘A Sybil’, oil on canvas by a follower of Domenichino (Italian, 1581-1641), £750, and lot 40, a North Italian School, 17th century painting of two female nudes by candlelight, £660. Both smashed their £200-£300 estimates.
Another artwork to exceed its guide prices was lot 38, an Italian School, 18th century oil on canvas of travellers on a road by a temple. It sold for £440 from a guide of £100-£150. And, still on an Italian theme, lot 5, an oil on canvas harbour scene in the manner of Giovanni Ghisolfi (Italian, 1623-1683) reached £500.
Period paintings with international connections proved a major draw for bidders. For example, lot 53, a portrait of a turbaned man, oil on canvas in the manner of Gerrit van Honthorst (Dutch, Utrecht, 1592-1656), sold for £950 from a £300-£500 guide.
Also popular was lot 26, a French School, late 19th Century, portrait of an Arab boy, oil on canvas. It was contested to £840 from an estimate of £200-£300.
Other sale highlights included lot 100, a seascape oil on canvas by Lucien Adrion (French 1889-1953), signed and dated. It matched its top estimate to sell for £600. And Lot 59, a portrait of gentleman, oil on canvas, by a follower of Michiel van Mierevelt (Dutch, 1566-1641) made £560, just nudging over its top estimate of £500.
To see the November 3, 2021, Period Paintings Auction results in full, please click on the catalogue at www.hansonslive.co.uk. To arrange a free paintings valuation, please email: [email protected].
