On Tuesday 7 July, Dreweatts had the privilege of presenting the art collection of Jemima Pitman at auction. This carefully curated selection consisted primarily of works by Jemima's great-uncle and great-aunt, John Singer Sargent and Emily Sargent, all fresh to the market. The collection demonstrated the enduring legacy of John Singer Sargent, while also bringing renewed attention to the remarkable talent of his often overlooked sister, Emily Sargent. Additional highlights included works by Henry Moore, Matthew Smith, Augustus John, James Dickson Innes, Harold Gilman and Gwen John.
Championing modern artists across generations, the sale attracted global interest and achieved a 100% sell-through rate. Realising a total of £1,090,556, the auction exceeded expectations, achieving 219% of its pre-sale estimate.
Commenting on the results, Co-Head of Modern & Contemporary Art Jennie Fisher said: "We were delighted to have the opportunity to bring this exceptional collection to auction. The combination of direct provenance from John Singer Sargent and the discerning eye of the Pitman family created a truly special group of works that captured the imagination of private collectors and institutions on both sides of the Atlantic.
"The highest price of the sale was achieved by a Venetian view by John Singer Sargent, which more than doubled its pre-sale estimate. We were equally pleased to see works by Sargent's lesser-known sister, Emily, generate such strong interest, as collectors discovered her exquisite watercolours for the first time."
Thinking of selling? For a free auction valuation, please contact our specialists on: +44 (0) 1635 553 553 | pictures@dreweatts.com. Alternatively, you can also complete our online valuation form, here.
Get a free auction valuation from our specialists. Complete our easy online form and upload photos of your items.
Start ValuationSign up for auction alerts and our monthly newsletter to receive expert analysis and insights from our specialists and keep up-to-date on forthcoming auctions, valuation days and previews.