The painting emerged in untouched
condition from the estate of a local
collector who, before his death, had told one of his relations that the subject was the Earl of Yarborough aboard his yacht, Kestrel.
This may or may not prove to be the case, but the fact that this was a well-detailed view of the deck of a Victorian yacht with what was thought to be the Solent and the Isle of White in the background, made this a rare and highly desirable object for
anyone with an interest in historic yachting pictures.
The West Sussex auctioneers had been hoping it would make £1000-2000 but fierce competition within the trade pushed the bidding up to £16,500, offered in the room by a Hampshire dealer underbid by a London trade commission.
Did an earl help the £16,500 boat come in?
The artist might have been unknown, the subject unconfirmed, but this unsigned 133/4 x 173/4in (35 x 45cm) Victorian oil, right, of figures on the deck of a yacht was nonetheless the most hotly contested lot at Stride & Son’s (15% buyer’s premium) August 29 sale in Chichester.
