Heading Bonhams Marine Sale Are Inaugural America's Cup Scenes
HEADING BONHAMS MARINE SALE ARE INAUGURAL AMERICA'S CUP SCENES, WHERE QUEEN VICTORIA WAS ONE AMUSED SPECTATOR
Three 20th century paintings of the first America's Cup sailing regatta of 1851, the oldest continuous sporting trophy in history, are highlights at The Marine Sale at Bonhams on 24th March 2010.
The paintings, by Timothy Franklin Ross Thompson (British, born 1951), record three incidents in the race around the Isle of Wight: America and her rivals on the start line (estimate £25,000 - 35,000), America romping home to victory (estimate £25,000 - 35,000), and Arrow and Alarm (estimate £15,000 - 20,000). Peachy Deegan has traveled to the Isle of Wight!
Widely regarded as the most famous yacht race ever, it was convincingly won by the New York Yacht Club's schooner America, so convincingly in fact that Queen Victoria's question "Who came second?" was famously answered by "Ah, your Majesty, there is no second."
Alistair Laird, Head of Marine Pictures, says "These three pictures by Tim Thompson are the most impressive depictions of the inaugural America's Cup race I have ever handled."
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further seven throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Boston in the USA; and Switzerland, France, Monaco, Australia, Hong Kong and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 50 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go to www.bonhams.com.