Brandon Lindberg | Head of Department

Brandon joined Dreweatts in 2020 as Head of British and European Pictures. He has a wealth of experience, having previously worked at Christie’s for 27 years, gaining a broad knowledge of British and European Art from the 17th Century to the present day, specialising in Victorian, Pre-Raphaelite and British Impressionist Art.

What was the best piece and then your favourite thing you have ever sold?

One of the best pictures I have sold is also one of my favourites. While cleaning out their loft a client discovered a small painting of a owl by the little known Pre-Raphaelite painter William Webbe. It had a timeless quality to it and captivated everyone who saw it. We valued it at £50,000 (more than the artist had ever sold for), but it went on to make £490,000.

What is trending in the current market?

Quality and condition are key. 17^th & 18^th Century portraiture is gaining in popularity again and Anglo India works always generate a lot of interest.

Lucy Darlington MRICS | Head of Sale

Lucy joined Dreweatts in 2016, and is involved with the development and production of Dreweatts’ Old Master British and European Picture sales. In 2018, Lucy was a finalist in the NAVA Novice Auctioneer of the Year Competition and now regularly auctioneers for Dreweatts, and in 2021, she qualified as a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Why and when did you start in the business?

I made the decision that I wanted to work in an auction house during sixth form. As well as being interested in fine art, I have always had a keen interest in British history and Victorian culture, and find items from the period particularly interesting. After completing a BA degree in Art History, and an MA in Fine and Decorative Art, I got my first job in Bonhams South African picture department in 2010.

What was the first painting you ever acquired?

Back in January 2017 Dreweatts sold the Prints from the Collection of the late Clifford and Rosemary Ellis. I was very much involved with cataloguing this sale which included so many wonderful prints. I bought lot 47, Linear Abstract (blue and pink), a lithograph by Rosemary Ellis as a memento from the sale.

What do you most enjoy about your role as an auctioneer/cataloguer/valuer?

Working in an auction house in a specialist department is a job like no other. Every day is different and I love the variety it brings. Handling and researching beautiful and interesting pictures is wonderful, but so is getting out on the road to meet people who want to share their carefully curated collections with you; it really is such a privilege. And of course, being able to sell the pictures which you have spent months carefully preparing for the big day is the most rewarding of all.

Who is your favourite artist?

Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones (English 1833-1898)

What advice would you give to someone starting an art collection?

Buy what you like and what you are drawn to. Of course there are some big names which will always retain their value, but the market is fickle and fashions change. Something which has style and quality, that has been well loved, will always have an advantage over something which is bought purely as an investment.

Daniele Amesso | Junior Picture Specialist

Daniele joined Dreweatts in December 2023, as a picture specialist, cataloguing and valuing Old Master, British and European pictures, specialising in Italian Renaissance and Baroque paintings.

Why and when did you start in the business?

After studying art history at the University of Bologna and the Warburg Institute, I began looking for jobs in the art marker and frequented the Old Master paintings galleries and auctions of London. I was extremely captivated by the whole environment. The fast pace working rhythm of auction houses, the excitement of making a discovery, and the understanding of the change of tastes are all things that interested me and pushed me to pursue this career.

What was the best piece and then your favourite thing you have ever sold?

I have never sold anything personally, but when I was an intern at Christie’s I witnessed the sale of Michael Sweert’s newly discovered The Artist’s Studio which sold for £12 million. It was an incredible experience and the excitement that came with it was a really palpable feeling.

Who is your favourite artist?

I believe it must be Raphael. When you look at a portrait of his, and do a staring contest, it really comes to life. Your eye starts to see all different details which were not evident at the beginning: a lock of hair blowing in the wind, a wrinkle, a spot, or even the veins pulsing with blood. It is an incredible experience, that kind of quality in handling paint is such a rare thing to find. I am always amazed every time I encounter a portrait of his.

What job would you like to do if you weren’t in the auction world?

I have always liked sports, so being an athlete, maybe a football player. I have always envied football players, they are always so young and talented, and get the chance to perform in front of millions of people.

What is trending in the current market?

There is definitely a strong attention to Renaissance and Baroque female artists. Paintings by Lavinia Fontana or Artemisia Gentileschi are now being sold ten times more of what they did a couple years ago.

Auction on 21 February 2024

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CONSIGN TO A FUTURE AUCTION
To consign to a future auction or to arrange a free auction valuation, please email pictures@dreweatts.com or complete our free online valuation form here.

UPCOMING AUCTIONS
Dreweatts Old Master, British and European Art department hold three Fine sales a year, during the spring, summer, and autumn where the most important works that we have are presented in our fully illustrated and researched catalogues. In addition to our Fine sales, we include more affordable Old Master, British and European Art in our regular Art Live sales. Works of this period also feature prominently in our Collection and Single Owner sales.

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