Modern British artists (MBAs) are catching the collector’s fancy

The impressive prices beyond estimates drawn by a clutch of modern British artists at Sotheby’s earlier auction, marked their dramatic upward journey. Here a Stanley Spencer oil work, ‘Sunflower and Dog Worship’ (1937) was the star, surpassing its estimate of £1m-£1.5m and fetching a whopping £5m. New auction records were set for Jazz Age chronicler Edward Burra, Patrick Heron and Graham Sutherland apart from a Lucian Freud work on paper.

Why have the MBAs, as they are popularly known, for so long out of spotlight in comparison to their more dynamic continental peers, suddenly started to stir? According to the Sotheby’s 20th-century British Art specialist, Frances Christie, there are several reasons for this turnaround in their fortunes.

First, the expert observes, that the string of some amazing private collections that the auction house has recently offered, including those in possession of Lord & Lady Attenborough as well as Robert Devereux, sold in 2009. The Stanley J Seeger collection ‘redefined the market’ for St Ives artists Peter Lanyon and Patrick Heron, almost a decade ago. She adds, “These collections released museum-quality pieces onto the market, a revelation to many of the non-British collectors, who didn’t realize how innovative indeed our artists could be.”

Equally vital was the new-found attention of top international museums, which helps raise the profile and stature of British art internationally. Recently, Wyndham Lewis was featured at the Fundación Juan March in Madrid; the vorticists were seen at Tate, whereas Britain & Stanley Spencer are on view at the Kunsthal,

Another market analyst observes that British modernists are luring keen buyers from across the Atlantic. Many of the postwar British artists like William Scott (who specialized in still lifes and landscapes, influenced by abstract expressionism) and Peter Lanyon had strong ties with the US, attracting the attention of art lovers there. The rather slow start and low-profile nature of modern British art means many of its exponents are ‘good value for money’ even at this point of time.