Exeter-based Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood are arranging a sale of major works by the late artist Robert Lenkiewicz. We take a look at what’s going under the hammer Words by Emma Parfitt
Devon-based Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood, the largest of all fine art and valuation houses in the South West of England, is delighted to be opening its Okehampton street salerooms in Exeter on 28 March at 12 noon to sell work of the artist Robert Lenkiewicz.
This important sale is to raise funds for the Lenkiewicz Foundation to acquire permanent exhibition space on the Barbican in Plymouth, the city where the artist lived and worked.
When the artist passed away in 2002 the firm was asked by the executor of the Lenkiewicz Estate for advice with collating, valuing and dispersing a huge body of his works and artefacts. Firstly, in 2003, in association with Sotheby’s in London, the firm conducted the first of three hugely successful studio sales.
This was followed by two larger sales under their own direction at Westpoint in Exeter in 2004 and 2008. Record sale prices were achieved at this time, with The Temptation of St Anthony selling for £170,000 and the superb Bishop Startled which sold for £100,000.
In 2010 there was a further single owner Lenkiewicz sale, selling The Last Supper canvas for £80,000 and a Portrait of Lisa Stokes for £40,000. Daniel Goddard, the Head of the Picture Department for the West Country auctioneers, adds:“This year we are delighted to be supporting The Lenkiewicz Foundation to help secure their long-term objective of permanent premises on the Barbican in Plymouth. To that end this sale includes a number of major paintings from the Collection of the Lenkiewicz Foundation among which are Paper Crowns estimated at £30,000-£50,000, Lot 27, and Diogenes and Belle at Prayer with Chairs, Lot 110, (shown above), estimated at £20,000-£30,000.”
The sale also includes paintings, watercolours, prints and photographs from the collection of Graham Carey, a personal friend and patron of Lenkiewicz, and a past trustee of The Foundation. Across the sale of over 100 lots there are more affordable watercolours, drawings, prints, photographs and artefacts with estimates from £50 - £5000 and these include the artist’s proof silk screen prints like The Painter With Karen [aka The Dance], Lot 2, with an estimate of £300-500, An Evening with Robert Lenkiewicz Poster, Lot 113, estimated at £50-100 and a small oil painting of Fiorella, Lot 17, estimated at £3000-5000.
The public view is from 9am-5.15pm on Thursday and Friday 26-27 March. At midday, on each viewing day, there will be a talk from a Trustee of the Lenkiewicz Foundation. Bids can can be made online, or by telephone. Catalogues, at £10, are from Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood. Enquiries to Daniel Goddard, dgoddard@bhandl.co.uk. Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood Limited, Valuers and Auctioneers is at St Edmund’s Court, Okehampton Street, Exeter, Devon, EX4 1DU bhandl.co.uk email: enquiries@bhandl.co.uk Tel: 01392 413100
