Two alluring early-20th century British school portraits of attractive young women caught the eye in recent regional sales. Both modestly estimated, they brought similar four-figure sums.
Although unattributed in the catalogue, the 3ft x 2ft 3in (90 x 70cm) oil of a society brunette in harebell blue dress (below far left) offered at Ramsay Cornish (24% buyer’s premium inc VAT) in Edinburgh on February 22 was signed Russell and dated 1926. Pitched at £100-200, it was hammered down at £1950.
The winning bidder, dealer Duncan Wood believes it to be “a superb example of the work of Sir Walter Westley Russell”.