Rarely seen Scottish art with 'compelling provenance' to go under hammer

Works by David Roberts and Sir John Lavery are to lead Bonham's annual Scottish art sale in October, alongside a piece by Anne Redpath, which has never been displayed outside of her family.

Each painting comes with a story of provenance and has either never previously appeared on the open market or has remained largely unseen by the public.

Leading the sale is David Roberts’ large-scale View of Donaldson’s Hospital from the Northwest, painted in 1851. The work was commissioned by the celebrated Edinburgh architect William Henry Playfair.

The school, which began admitting deaf pupils in the 1850s and became exclusively dedicated to deaf education by 1938, was later moved to a new campus in Livingston and the original building turned into residential flats.

The painting has been held by the Donaldson’s Trust. Following the Trust’s decision to sell, the work now comes to market for the first time in generations and is offered with an estimate of £100,000 to £150,000.

Also to be sold is Market - Gran Canaria by Anne Redpath, one of Scotland’s best-loved twentieth-century painters, which has never been owned outside of the artist’s family after being painted for her doctor. Redpath was the first female painter to be elected as a full member of the Royal Scottish Academy.

The painting, which is expected to reach between £30,000 and £50,000 at auction, has never previously been offered on the open market and has remained unseen by the wider public.

Meanwhile, Sir John Lavery’s A Milkmaid originated from the Grand Costume Ball staged by the Glasgow Art Club at St Andrew’s Hall in 1889. The event attracted the most prominent citizens where members of the Glasgow Boys, who dressed up as great painters of the past. produced sketches of guests in costume.

The work is offered with an estimate of £18,000 to £25,000.

May Matthews, managing director of Bonhams Scotland, said: “Together, the three works offer different windows onto Scottish cultural history: Roberts’s monumental vision of Edinburgh architecture; Redpath’s vibrant interpretation of Gran Canaria; and Lavery’s portrait of a pioneering Scottish woman, emerging from the extraordinary artistic and social world of Victorian Glasgow.”

The sale will take place in Edinburgh on October 22.