Public Exhibition Opens April 25

Auction Date: April 30

New York- On April 30, Bonhams sale of 19th Century European Paintings will be highlighted by Rudolf Ernst’s The Palace Guard (Awaiting an audience), a striking portrait of an Arab sentinel (estimate: $200,000-300,000). This painting features one of Ernst's favorite moustachioed models, wearing finely tailored garments of luxurious silks and satins, which highlights Ernst's adeptness at the depiction of elaborately wrapped and layered textiles. An ornately decorated Turkish saber in its scabbard is fastened across the man's waist, another familiar motif in Ernst's expansive yet cohesive oeuvre. This accessory, along with the man's distinctive pose, are repeated in other pictures, suggesting not merely Ernst's own interest in the subject, but its popularity among clients as well.

This season also features a selection of three equestrian paintings by Sir Alfred James Munnings (1878-1959). Munnings’ paintings of horses remain among his most celebrated works and the selection includes Fred Gray - leading home (estimate: $100,000-150,000); Springtime - Polly Scotchmer of the Red Lion Inn, Mendham (estimate: $80,000-120,000); and Passing the barrow (estimate: $40,000-60,000). Munnings depicted Fred Grey and Polly Scotchmer, both locals of Mendham, in the tradition of the British naturalists who embraced the idea of representing real people in their natural environment doing everyday, ordinary tasks. Passing the barrow illustrates three racehorses at Newmarket, a location Munnings frequented to paint various scenes involving racehorses in the 1940's and 1950's. He particularly liked to experiment with the grouping of horses at exercise in the early mornings and the numerous strings of horses that went out each morning gave him endless motifs to study under different light conditions.

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Sale: 19th Century European Paintings

Location: 580 Madison Avenue, New York

Auction Date: April 30

Specialist: Madalina Lazen

Enquiries

For further information and images call Sung-Hee Kim on +1 917 206 1692, or email sunghee.kim@bonhams.com.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and jewellery. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, Paris, San Francisco and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com.