REDISCOVERED ICONIC VIEW OF EDINBURGH CASTLE AT BONHAMS ANNUAL SCOTTISH SALE
A recently rediscovered painting of Edinburgh Castle from Princes Street as it would have appeared to the Victorians is for sale at Bonhams Scottish Sale Part I in Edinburgh on 20 August. It is estimated at £100,000-150,000.
The huge canvas – it is over 5ft high - was painted in the early 1860s by the Carlisle born Samuel Bough who after a career as a theatre scene painter settled in Scotland in 1855. As an artist and man he had a reputation for being wild and erratic but his best works are regarded as masterpieces. His friend, Robert Louis Stevenson wrote admiringly in his obituary of the artist, “a painting by Bough was an act of dashing conduct like a capture of a fort in war.” Edinburgh Castle from Princes Street has been in the same family since its purchase and has almost certainly never been exhibited.
Bonhams Head of Pictures in Scotland, Chris Brickley, said, “Bough's memory was legendary, particularly for cloud and atmospheric effects, and these are put to full use in Edinburgh Castle from Princes Street in the light summer sky, foliage, dappling sunlight and steam from the trains arriving at Waverley Station. The deft touch and spontaneity of the foreground in particular, describing elegant figures perambulating and carriages on the cobbles, have much in common with 'Pre-Impressionists' such as Eugene Boudin.”
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son & Neale. 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 three in the UK regions and Scotland. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Connecticut in the USA; and Germany, France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Australia. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments go to www.bonhams.com.
