Major Sale for Landseer's Highland Masterpiece
A painting by Sir Edwin Landseer, renowned as Queen Victoria's preferred artist, has achieved £5.9 million at a recent London auction. The artwork, titled 'Scene in Braemar,' depicts a 12-point stag positioned on a Scottish Highland peak and has been identified as a companion piece to his famous 'Monarch of the Glen.'
The sale price significantly surpassed previous records for Landseer's works, fetching five times the artist's prior auction high. Sotheby's had initially estimated the painting would sell for up to £4 million.
Historical Context and Significance
'Scene in Braemar' was originally commissioned by the railway magnate Edward Betts for £800. However, due to a banking crisis in 1868, Betts was compelled to sell his entire collection, including this painting. Since then, the artwork has been part of various private collections and has been displayed in public galleries on multiple occasions.
While 'Monarch of the Glen' is widely recognized and is housed at the National Galleries of Scotland, 'Scene in Braemar' is a larger piece, measuring nearly 9 feet (2.74 meters). Its last appearance at auction was in 1994, where it sold for £793,500.
Expert Commentary
Julian Gascoigne, a senior director in Sotheby's paintings department, characterized 'Scene in Braemar' as one of Landseer's premier Highland masterpieces. He described it as an atmospheric counterpart to 'Monarch of the Glen,' noting, "Where the Monarch shows the stag in the brilliance of youth, this is a darker, more epic vision: majestic, charged with tension, and iconic in its vision of the Highlands."
In 1857, The Times newspaper lauded the painting as "masterly in conception and effect" and a fitting partner to 'Monarch of the Glen.'
Source: Original Article
