HIGH-PRICED PORTRAITS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 118, 11 July 1911, Page 6

HIGH-PRICED PORTRAITS.

Happy indeed arc the possessors today ol examples of the work of the Scottish artist, Sir Harry Raeburn. During life and for many years after his death Raeburn's art met with little or no appreciation. He'was classed as cf the school of Laurence, and so little were Jus works appreciated that in 1877 no less than forty-nine of his portraits fetched only £6OOO all told, one of the number being his likeness of Lady Raeburn, which afterwards passed into the possession of Sir Ernest Cassell at 8700 guineas. Post mortem appreciation of Sir Harry’s works, however, has grown steadily. In 1903 his “Sir John Sinclair” was “hammered” for £14,700, and recently, at the famous Christie’s auction rooms, his “Mrs Robert Williamson”—a canvas approximately 6ft by sft—fetched no less than 22,300 guineas. This sum beats the European auction record for a picture of any school, exceeding by £1415 the £22,000 realised in the Sccrctian Sale in Paris in 1887 for Millet’s “Angelas,” and by 8250 guineas the 14,050 guineas which Messrs Duvecn gave for Hopouer’s “Lady Louisa Manners” in 1901. Though the 22,300 guineas establishes a European record, America still leads in auction values. In the ■Yorkes Bale in New York, last year “A Woman,” by Frans Hals, realised £27,400, and Turner’s “Rockets and .Blue-lights’’ brought £25,800. What did the painter of. Mrs Wiliimnscii receive for this work? No one .seems to know, but it is not likely that he got move than £l5O, for in 1822 the Society of Writers to the .Signet of Edinburgh paid him .100 guineas for a- 50 by 40 portrait of “Baron Hume,” which was painted about the same period as the “Mrs Williamson” portrait. •- .There was very keen competition for the canvas. In three bids die figures rose to 5000 guineas, and thp thouscivds mounted until the Houpner record of 14,050 guineas was broken. Still them was no sign of slackening. In a three-cornered light between Messrs Agtrew. and Messrs Duveen and Messrs. 'Christie’« *•'auction ■ room clerk hundreds of pounds wore exchanged; 17,000 guineas. 18,000 guineas, and amid applause 20,000 guineas was reached. But the end of the contest had not come yet. Messrs. Agns.w dropped out, biit the duel between tho clerk and Mr. Louis Duveen went steadily on till at 22,300 guineas the picture fell to tho bid of the latter.