Oil sketch for The Opening of Waterloo Bridge by John Constable – £1.9m at Sotheby’s.
While Dutch pictures stood out at Christie’s, British art led the way at Sotheby’s.
The sale-topper at £6.3m was Joseph Wright of Derby’s (1734-97)Academy by Lamplight. This exceptionally well-preserved 1769 candle-lit picture had been in the same family for at least 150 years (see ATG No 2321).