Price tag of £1.5m for art at auction

A TREASURE trove of seven paintings by the four leading Scottish Colourists is expected to fetch nearly £1.5 million at auction in London next month.

The post-impressionist style of the artists had a formative influence on contemporary Scottish art and culture, and the paintings to be sold are described as “one of the most important groups of works to come to the market for many years”.

The group — Samuel Peploe, George Leslie Hunter, JD Fergusson of Perthshire and Francis Cadell — followed separate careers and developed their work at different rates.

The most expensive work on sale is Peploe’s Dish with Apples, Ginger Jar, Brown Crock, Bottle and Chair.

Painted in 1918 during what was arguably the most accomplished period in his career, it is expected to fetch between £300,000 and £500,000.

Caddell’s 1921 still life Pink Tulips in a Blue Jar is expected to achieve more than £250,000 to 350,000, while Hunter’s Pink Roses, Red Curtain in Background, Green melon and Jade Necklace could make as much £180,000.

On The Road to the Isles is the only painting by Fergusson to feature in the auction and is expected to fetch at least £60,000.

According to a Christie’s painting expert, the artists would often sit side-by-side painting an identical view, and while they quite naturally influenced each other, they also brought to the same subject their different styles and approaches.

The works will be sold on June 25 at Christie’s Sale of Modern British and Irish Art in London.