Chorley's Sets Sail into 2024

Chorley’s are delighted to announce their first Fine Art and Antiques auction of the year, which will offer strong lots across all main categories, including pictures, jewellery, silver and furniture. Taking place on 6^th February, the auction will focus on a selection of classic marine paintings. The valuers have assembled an armada of works by such masters of the genre as Frederick William Scarborough (1860-1939), Thomas Bush Hardy (1842-1897), William Adolphus Knell (1805-1875) and Charles Taylor (act.1841-1883). Casting an auspiciously wide net of price points, the auction should appeal to both seasoned collectors and those entering the world of marine pictures for the first time.

Maritime watercolours will be one of the sale’s main strengths. Works by Bush Hardy are well represented, and Chorley’s will feature three of his characteristic seascapes. These works will be accompanied by two elegant marine scenes by Charles Taylor, pitched temptingly at £200-300 each. Finally, Chorley’s will offer a radiant harbour scene by Scarborough, carrying an estimate of £500-800.

Marine works in oil will also be out in force, and the February auction will include a collection of arresting paintings by Adolphus Knell. Six examples of his marine paintings, all dramatic scenes featuring battleships, will be offered in the Chorley’s sale, with estimates starting at £100-150 and rising to £600-800 for an especially strong pair of his artworks.

There will also be a number of pictures that take the world’s most well-known marine city, Venice, as their subject. Antoine Bouvard’s ‘Evening Light’ will be the standout lot in this section. This elegant painting, which conveys an appealingly meditative atmosphere and is suffused with the delicate treatment of twilight that is a defining trademark of the artist’s work, carries an estimate of £6,000-8,000 – a reflection of the continuing popularity of this talented painter. 

Chorley's look forward to welcoming bidders to their Prinknash Saleroom on 6th February for an exciting and varied sale that should offer something for every collector.