AN Ouless painting sold at auction at Bonhams last week has set a new record sale price of nearly £24,000 - and achieved double its estimated sale value.
Pre-auction estimates put the auction price at around £12,000 but a UK bidder paid £23,900 for the painting of the ship Superb, painted in 1850 by the Jersey-born artist.The bidding in London was so enthusiastic that the price rocketed and set a new world record for an Ouless painting, the previous record having been set in the Channel Islands three years ago at £18,000.The painting of the ship, which showed Elizabeth Castle in the background, was painted by Philip John Ouless, who studied painting in Paris.
He returned to Jersey as a painter and teacher and specialised in commissioned ship portraits and depicting launches and wrecks.The painting was offered to Bonhams by a private client and was bought by a mystery bidder who competed against two local prospective purchasers for the lot.
The painting had never before seen the inside of an auction house and this had an impact on its value, as did the fact that paintings of its kind are currently in fashion due to the coming of the bicentennial of the Battle of Trafalgar in February 2005.The enigmatic buyer has purchased a picture of a ship with a rich history.
The 19th-century vessel sailed between St Helier and St Malo ferrying passengers between the two ports.
On one journey she tore her hull on a hidden rock and 20 people died.Rich collectorsAlistair Laird, marine paintings expert for Bonhams in London, said that the picture was his favourite in the sale.’Channel Islands artists’ works are quite rare and there are some rich collectors who look out for their works,’ he said.
‘It is a very nice image.’
Article posted on 21st February, 2004 - 12.00am
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