Works by the pioneering Irish born artist Phoebe Anna Traquair far exceeded expectations to sell for a total of £109,479 at Bonhams Scottish sale in Edinburgh on October 14. Reverie sold for £21,313 having been estimated at £1,000-1,500; and Portrait of a Girl sold for £20,063 against an estimate of £1,000-1,500.
Bonhams Picture Specialist in Edinburgh, May Matthews, said: “Phoebe Anna Traquair holds a unique place in the history of Scottish culture. She was the first major woman artist in modern Scotland, and, in 1920, became the first woman to be elected to the Royal Scottish Academy. Traquair’s work rarely comes up at auction, and collectors responded enthusiastically to the chance to acquire one of these beautiful works.”
The Scottish Sale made a total of £689,376.
(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for September 30, 2020)
