Bonhams British and European Art Auction Realizes £274,752 with a 61.5% Sell-Through Rate

Bonhams concluded its British and European Art auction in a sale that closed on 16 September 2026. The auction realized a total of £274,752, with 83 of 135 lots sold^[1], representing a 61.5% sell-through rate^[1]. The sale brought together a diverse range of regional and period works, spanning traditional British equestrian portraiture, Scandinavian landscapes, and modern figurative paintings.

According to the official results published by Bonhams, which serves as the primary source for this sale, the auction presented collectors with an array of classical and modern European works. The offerings highlighted the enduring appeal of regional schools, from the Newlyn School of Cornwall to Icelandic modernism. The provenance of several key pieces traces back to established galleries and private collections across the United Kingdom and the United States, reflecting the international circulation of these works over several decades.

Among the notable offerings was a painting by Stanhope Alexander Forbes, RA, titled "Sunday afternoon by the duck pond." Forbes, a leading figure of the Newlyn School, was known for his plein air paintings of Cornish life. This particular work, signed 'Stanhope a.Forbes.' in the lower right, was previously held by Strandberg Fine Paintings in Penzance, Cornwall, before entering a private collection in the United Kingdom.

Another significant work featured in the sale was Karolina Larusdottir's "Dance by the shore." Larusdottir, an Icelandic artist, is celebrated for her whimsical, often surreal depictions of everyday life and dreamlike gatherings. Her oil on canvas piece, signed 'K.Larusdottir', showcases her distinct figurative style and narrative depth, which has long resonated with collectors of modern Nordic art.

The auction also featured traditional sporting art, highlighted by John Frederick Herring, Snr.'s "Cyprian, a bay racehorse with William Scott up and the owner Mr John Scott nearby." The thoroughbred depicted in the painting, Cyprian, won the Epsom Oaks. The horse's owner, breeder, and trainer was the celebrated John Scott, widely known in the racing world as the 'Wizard of the North'. The painting, signed and dated by the artist, has a documented history that includes an appearance at a major London auction house and a subsequent place in a private UK collection.

In addition to British sporting art, the sale presented continental works, such as Niels Simonsen's "Arabs in a hilltop fort." Simonsen, a Danish artist, was known for his dramatic depictions of military and orientalist subjects. This work, signed and inscribed 'NSimonsen/Munchen', has passed through Pyms Gallery in London and a private collection in the United States, illustrating the global market for nineteenth-century European genre painting.

The results of this auction demonstrate the steady demand for well-provenanced European art, with collectors showing interest in both traditional nineteenth-century subjects and twentieth-century regional modernism. The sale of works by Forbes, Larusdottir, and others highlights the ongoing collector interest in specific regional narratives and artistic movements across the British Isles and continental Europe.