Dame Barbara Hepworth:
Tonight’s Evening sale of Modern & Post-War British Art at Sotheby’s London saw Barbara Hepworth’s majestic Parent I - the pinnacle of one of the most iconic series executed by giant of 20th-century British art - sell for £3,758,750 (est. £2,000,000-3,000,000). One of the most ground-breaking and forward-thinking artists of her generation, Barbara Hepworth carved a path as a world-recognised sculptor – a stature that no female artist had previously achieved. Parent I belongs to The Family of Man, a magnificent group of sculptures that are undoubtedly the crowning achievement of Hepworth’s final years – a universal survey of humanity, acknowledging both the civilisations of the past and the present, alongside aspirations for the future.

A Life in Art: Lord & Lady Attenborough:
Offered alongside the Hepworth were a group of works from the collection of Lord and Lady Attenborough, whose interest in British art first started in the 1940s and endured throughout their lives. This evening, the first five Modern British artworks to be from their celebrated collection exceeded pre-sale expectations – testament to their immense passion and a very distinctive eye. The selection was led by two works by Henry Moore. Shelter Drawing by the artist brought £296,750 (est. £150,000-250,000), an extraordinary depiction of the large numbers of people that sheltered on tube station platforms in London following the outbreak of the Second World War. Moore’s masterful sculpture Seated Woman: One Arm achieved £112,500 (est. £40,000-60,000) – a wonderful example of the artist’s ability to create endlessly original figural forms to capture a timeless essence. A further highlight was Ben Nicholson’s Still Life with Mug Decorated with Stag from 1930, marking a pivotal moment when he moved away from the traditional approach to still-lifes, which sold for £206,250 (est. £80,000-120,000).

The Attenborough’s celebrated collection of Picasso Ceramics was similarly well received today, with every lot finding a buyer and each one achieving prices above the high estimate. A further 32 works of Modern British art belonging to the couple will be offered tomorrow.