Paintings by industrial painter William Turner stole the show in a sale at Nantwich fine art and antiques auctioneers Peter Wilson.
Five of the Manchester artist’s unique works sold for a total of £34,100 at the Market Street auction house.
The most valuable proved to be arguably his wittiest, which gave an added poignancy to this the largest sale of his works by volume since the artist’s death last July at the age of 93.
“The Funeral”, a worm’s eye view looking skyward from a grave, sold for £12,500. It had been estimated at £5,000-7,000.
Dave Gunning, the art dealer who discovered Turner late in the artist’s life and became his agent, said the oil on board was Turner’s favourite.
“The painting is illustrative of Will’s quirky sense of humour.
“He was struck by the comical idea of the corpse, lying in the grave, and looking up at the sky, and the mourners gazing down into the grave.”
“Stairway to Paradise”, another oil on board, sold for £4,800.
“I asked Will what inspired him to paint this picture,” Dave added.
“He explained that the Stairway down to Hell was of marble and was easily navigated.
“However, the Stairway to Heaven was like a broken ladder with many pitfalls in the ascent. Only the most worthy would be able to make it to the top.”
Close behind at £4,300 was “Mow Cop”, a dynamic oil on canvas of the Biddulph Moor village, while the others were “Margaret”, a nude in an interior which sold for £3,600; “Angel Street, Manchester”, showing a horse and cart, (£3,500); “The Eclipse”, signed and dated 99” and a watercolour view of Mossley, Oldham (£900 each).
Entries are now being received for Peter Wilson’s Gallery Sales on January 9 and 23 and for the February Fine Art Sale on Wednesday and Thursday February 19-20.
For details contact the auctioneer on 01270 623878 or [email protected]
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