Artwork collection formerly owned by Sir Noël Coward heads to auction
Sir Noël Coward was best known as an actor and playwright capable of combining “chic and cheek”. Now with the sale of a collection of 75 paintings formerly owned by this flamboyant wit, his skills as a painter will also be revealed.
Offered as part of Christie’s South Kensington’s Modern British and Irish Art Sale on the 19th March, the Sir Noël Coward (1899 – 1973) collection features works by revered British artists including Christopher Wood, John Nash, Edward Seago and Derek Hill. The works, which have never been seen together before in public, number gifts from friends such as Elizabeth Taylor, David Niven and Ivor Novello but most interestingly, it also includes a group of paintings by himself.
Coward took up painting at a young age and enjoyed the activity at his homes in Jamaica and Switzerland. He liked to paint “vibrant scenes of people at work and play, and picturesque coastal scenes” and experimented with both oils and watercolours.
Of the paintings by Coward, Will Porter of Christie’s commented:
“His paintings are great fun … they reflect his sense of humour. There are some very witty works and some slightly risqué pieces”.
Estimates for works form the collection range from £300 up to £100,000.
All images courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd. 2015.
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