The European Paintings Department

Lot 203 Sir Winston Spencer Churchill (British, 1874-1965) Sunset over the Atlas Mountains, Marrakech oil on canvas Sold for $350,000

Lot 199 Sir George Clausen, RA, RWS (British, 1852-1944) The head of a young girl oil on canvas Sold for $275,000

Lot 68 Antonino Leto (Italian, 1844-1913) A view of the Bay of Naples with fishermen in the foreground oil on copper Sold for $85,000

Lot 130 Franz Xavier Kosler (Austrian, 1864-1905) An Arab market scene oil on canvas Sold for $180,000

With the combined experience of 35 years, our European Paintings specialists cover such diverse areas as Old Master paintings, 19th Century genre paintings as well as landscapes and other subjects. We hold two annual sales, with one in April and the other in October.


Recent Auction

European Paintings
April 23, 2008



Bonhams' highly anticipated April 23rd European Paintings Sale was one of the first to preview in the new spacious gallery at 580 Madison Avenue. The sale was met with frenzied bidding from an international pool of clients. Originally scheduled to be simulcast to the auction house's Manhattan and San Francisco salesrooms, the $2.7-million sale drew such interest that staff members in the Los Angeles showroom were recruited to accommodate the tremendous number of telephone bidders, many of whom were participating from England, France, Italy and other parts of Europe.

A painting by Sir Winston Spencer Churchill titled 'Sunset over the Atlas Mountains' sparked strong interest. The landscape, featuring Churchill's favorite view of the sunset on the snows of the Atlas Mountains, was a highlight of the sale, piquing the interest of art collectors and history buffs alike. After tense bidding, the work was acquired by an anonymous buyer for $420,000.

Perhaps the most surprising result of the sale related to a small oil on canvas by Sir George Clausen. The lovely 13 x 10 inch portrait created a bidding battle and sold, far above its estimate, for $330,000.

Also fetching an impressive final bid was an Orientalist scene from Franz Xavier Kosler. The painting depicts an Arab market scene and was estimated at $30/50,000, but fierce bidding resulted in a new world auction record for this artist at $216,000.

Specialists were pleased to see many lots attracting strong bids. A piece by Antonino Leto, more than outperformed, realizing an extraordinary $102,000 at the sale; a piece by Mariano Barbasán Lagueruela fetched $78,000- more than double its high estimate of $30,000; and a scene titled 'Le boudoir', depicting two women in a charming, intimate setting by French painter Delphin Enjolras, sold well above its estimate of $10/15,000 drawing $39,000.

"We were extremely pleased with the outcome of this sale in our new gallery space," said New York City-based European Paintings Specialist Malcolm Walker. "Many of the lots exceeded our expectations and we look forward to future sales here in New York."