A rare oil painting from the early 1970s depicting Glasgow’s industrial heartland is among a number of city scenes featuring in a dedicated online auction of Scottish Contemporary Art this weekend.
‘Factories in the Snow’ is considered to be one of the finest works by acclaimed UK landscape artist Herbert Whone, with the industrial blocks and smoke belching chimneys showing a city in transition during the winter of 1973.
Born and raised in Yorkshire, Whone moved to Glasgow in 1955 where he produced a series of acclaimed paintings showing the changing face of the city.
Works by the artist rarely come to auction and art experts at McTear’s estimate the 83cm by 102cm oil on board could fetch up to £8k.
Among the other Glasgow works in the auction will be an atmospheric river scene dating to the late 1940s/early 1950s, by William Norman Gaunt. ‘Boats on the Clyde’ features a number of vessels, - most likely the famed Clyde puffer - ploughing their way along the river towards the city, with the grey of the swell punctuated with dramatic spots of colour on the boat funnels.
Originally from Leeds, Gaunt visited Scotland on a number of occasions where he continued to develop his characterful depictions of figures and coastal scenes. The oil painting will feature in McTear’s Scottish Contemporary Art Auction with an estimate of £1,000 to £2,000.
Commenting on the auction, McTear’s managing director, Brian Clements, said: “Herbert Whone was a master of his art and captured some of the most dramatic and powerful scenes of Glasgow during the 1960s and 70s. ‘Factories in the Snow’ is a remarkable piece and we are already seeing significant interest from potential buyers at home and overseas.
“Similarly, ‘Boats on the Clyde’ is a wonderfully atmospheric work. Although not a native Glaswegian, William Norman Gaunt captured the city and the Clyde in a manner which only the very finest Scottish artists have ever achieved.”
Other Glasgow paintings in the auction include a striking oil by Glasgow artist and historian, Edward Chisnall, entitled ‘Winter, 1983, Glasgow’, a colourful oil by Peter Foyle of Ashton Lane in the city’s west end and an Iain Carby oil showing the University of Glasgow.
Brian Clements continued: “With its long and rich history, impressive architecture and unique culture, many of the country’s most prestigious artists have chosen Glasgow as a location of choice in their works, with many McTear’s lots drawing interest from buyers across the globe. A few months ago the quintessentially Glasgow picture ‘Topping Out Day’ by Avril Paton was secured by a Florida private collector for £8,000 - a new auction record for the artist.”
Although the current restrictions do not allow in-person auctions, McTear’s has a series of online sales platforms in place to allow all its auctions to be hosted live.
The Scottish Contemporary Art Auction will take place live online at www.mctears.co.uk on Sunday January 24 from 1pm.
