Classic Art and Paintings
Classic paintings feature as a dedicated section in our Fine & Classic auctions, held quarterly throughout the year, with free valuations on paintings submitted to our sales. Recent sales have featured works by Louise Jopling, Freida Lock and Sarah Biffin, alongside oil paintings and contemporary sculpture.
Classic paintings are unique works with historical and cultural significance, created by celebrated artists past and present.
Our classic paintings sales run from traditional to modern, across different movements and artists. They include oil paintings through to contemporary sculpture, with works that consistently attract collectors.
Value can fluctuate with an artist's popularity, but classic paintings often appreciate over time and have long been treated as a strong long-term investment.
Beyond the financial side, the works themselves are enjoyed in homes, museums and galleries for the skill and vision behind them.
Department specialists
What's selling well
A snapshot of what's attracting strong interest in our recent classic paintings sales.
Explore the classic art and paintings directory
Discover information on all the artists and makers we've sold.
-
"Saint Bride" - Louise Jopling (British 1843-1933)
Signed, titled "Paul said, and Peter said, And all the saints alive and dead vowed she had the sweetest head, Bonnie sweet Saint Bride" and with the artist's address - '3 Logan Place, Kensington' and original price of…
Sold for: £13,800
-
Charles Gretton, London, Gilt Brass and Shagreen Pair Cased Pocket Watch
A Fine and Early Gold, Gilt Brass and Shagreen Pair Cased Pocket Watch by Charles Gretton, London, William & Mary period, the white enamelled dial set with Roman hour markers and Arabic five-minute markers, the movement…
Sold for: £2,500
-
"Portrait of a military officer" - Sarah Biffin (British 1784-1850)
Inscribed on original label verso, oval, miniature, watercolour on ivory. Dimensions: 9cm x 7cm (3.5in x 2.75in).
Sarah Biffin was born without arms or vestigial legs and was only 94 cm high. At a young age she was…Sold for: £5,800
Classic art and painting FAQs
{"markup":"Find answers to common enquiries about buying and selling in this department.","blocks":{"contentData":[],"settingsData":[],"expose":[],"layout":{}}}
Get your classic art or painting valued by our experts
From a single piece to a whole collection, our specialists value your items, place them in the right sale and guide you through to payment.