S otheby’s is delighted to present an exceptional group of works from the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton, Canada across a series of sales this summer, representing major British artists from Gainsborough to Lowry. The Beaverbrook Art Gallery was founded in 1959 by Max Aitken, 1st Lord Beaverbrook (1879-1964), one of the most influential figures of the first half of the twentieth century: financier, politician, press baron and philanthropist. He was behind the rise of the Daily Express becoming the most influential newspaper in Britain between the wars, and his indefatigable energy was recognised by his friend Sir Winston Churchill when he made him Minister of Supply during World War II. In addition to his media and political career, Lord Beaverbrook was an enthusiastic art collector and patron, on personal terms with several of the leading British artists of the day. It was his original gift of 300 works from his collection that established the Beaverbrook Art Gallery.
Today, the Gallery’s British Collection is one of the most comprehensive of its kind, encompassing works from the Elizabethan era to the 20th century. It has also established an important Canadian Collection, including artworks from the 18th century to the present day, as well as an extensive International Collection representing 600 years of artistic practice in Europe and the United States.
The present group of British works being offered by the Beaverbrook Art Gallery span the 18th to the 20th century, beginning with an extensive landscape by Gainsborough and an early watercolour by Turner. The 20th century paintings are led by a rare Surrealist masterpiece by Paul Nash, Environment for Two Objects. There are several works by Walter Sickert - recently the subject of a major exhibition at Tate Britain - the highlight being The Old Middlesex from 1906, and an exemplary Lowry coastal scene, Yachts, Lytham St Anne’s. In addition to the British artworks, three volumes of John James Audubon’s magnificent The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America, will be offered in our Fine Book and Manuscripts sale in New York in July.
