SOTHEBY'S annual Scottish Art sale was a solid offering, containing few surprises for the regular market-watcher in terms of results or selling rate.
Such sales are generally judged on the strength of the "Scottish Colourist" works featured, and here the Peploes did not disappoint. Sensible estimates, and a good range of works, allowed them to perform to full potential.
Lot 6, Pink Roses (below), was the pick of the bunch, a delightfully creamy and painterly early oil. Peploe's "white" pictures are much-prized, and the familiar motifs and market-freshness were in its favour. Despite modest dimensions, it fetched a healthy £499,000 (estimate: £2-300,000).
Lot 16, a more typical and considered 1920s composition of pink roses and fruit by Peploe, offered a revealing comparison. It realised £327,000 (estimate: £2-300,000).
Lot 2, The White Strand, Iona, was a fine, crisp Peploe from the fascinating Scottish sub-genre centred on the tiny Hebridean island (popularised by FCB Cadell, who spent most summers there). Prices for these standard-sized panels are generally fairly predictable, but this one rightly found favour at £138,600 (estimate: £50-70,000).
Lot 15, A Perthshire Road, was more standard fare, but these subjects by Peploe have been excelling of late and it fetched £113,400 on the day (estimate £50-80,000).
Otherwise, Cadell's appealing little still life (lot 32) White, Pink and Blue had been on the market in recent years. In his earlier, painterly style, the slightly cluttered composition nonetheless sold easily enough at £163,800 (est 80-120,000). Of the other Colourists, Fergusson and Hunter currently remain subject to more erratic bidding, as does Maclauchlan Milne.
The singular Joan Eardley continues to sell with ease, further confirming her place in the upper echelons of the Scottish market.
Lot 68, Scrubbing the Steps (above), was a strong example of a theme which can be a little more challenging for the casual collector than her depictions of children, or the village of Catterline. Succinct, and with touches of pure colour lifting the soot-stained Townhead edifice, it made £32,760. It was unsigned, but bearing the studio number verso as these often do.
Meanwhile, on the south side, John Miller's view from Hampden Terrace to the skyline of 1960s industrial Glasgow realised more than ten times its pre-sale estimate at £7560.
Alberto Morrocco and Anne Redpath can still attract healthy sums for the right pictures, when offered at the right levels. Both have suffered in the past from overly-optimistic pricing, and/or market saturation. Stephen Conroy, much less prolific, was a solid performer as usual.
Finally, despite their undeniable significance, the work of William McTaggart and the Glasgow Boys still appears good value in the marketplace.
As ever, quality and market-freshness remain of paramount importance. Bidding is still selective, and these online sales are intended to maximise the chances of encouraging collectors to participate. It appears, however, that most of the action still takes place on the day of the sale.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here