Art from the Heart

Another very enjoyable talk today from Philip Hook, Sotheby’s senior art specialist as he shared his experiences of selling the world’s most expensive art and his love of paintings.

He took us through ten things that make a difference to the price including; whether or not the main subject of a portrait is smiling or frowning (smiling can increase the value vastly); whether or not the artist had a muse, a troubled life or was subject to periods of madness (all good!); and whether or not the painting is representative of the subject matter for which the artist is best knows (a Monet waterlily painting will sell for much more than a Monet portrait).

He was very entertaining and I particularly liked the story where he had seen some writing on the back of a painting saying “right of passage”, thought that was the name of the work and then was later informed it was an instruction regarding where the painting should be hung!

He has a new book out called “Breakfast at Sotheby’s” and it sounded like a great read but is so hot off the press that unfortunately there were none there. He did sign and number bookplates for people though, which was a nice touch.

The talk was in the Town Hall in Cheltenham, built in 1902-3. A rather impressive building with its Corinthian style columns.