The recession has reached the work of Dundee’s finest artist James McIntosh Patrick, with one of his original watercolours failing to reach its reserve price at auction in the city this week.
Carse of Gowrie from Dron was put under the hammer at Curr and Dewar by its Broughty Ferry owner who wanted at least £4,000 for the typical McIntosh Patrick rural scene from 1988.
Bidding opened at £2,200 but got no higher than £3,400, so the painting was withdrawn.
The same vendor also offered the original McIntosh Patrick watercolour, At Muirloch Farm, from the same year.
The starting price was £2,000 and the owner was prepared to take at least £3,000, a price that was offered by a female bidder who left delighted with her acquisition.
Steven Dewar of Curr and Dewar said the opportunity to buy McIntosh Patrick originals is quite rare.
”Usually these would go well in the local market with local buyers, but in the current economic climate things are more difficult,” he said.
”McIntosh Patrick’s main quality works were those he painted in oil before 1990, but his work after that period would still have commanded a bit of interest up to a few years ago.
”That only one of the two reached its reserve price reflects the more difficult economic climate we are in today. Carse of Gowrie from Dron will now go back to its vendor.”
The artist died at the age of 91 in 1998.