LONDON.- A successful run of sales in specialist disciplines at 25 Blythe Road this winter is culminating next week with the British and Continental Paintings online-only auction at www.25BlytheRoad.com. The online bidding starts today 6th December at noon with the first lot closing at 3pm on Tuesday 10th December 2013. There is viewing at the Blythe Road gallery over the weekend and on Monday, 7-9th December.

Offering affordable paintings in time for Christmas, (prices range from £50-£5,000), George Duckett continues to encourage collectors to acquire good quality and reasonably priced unsung British and European artists of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. In this sale Royal Academicians such as Henry Bright (1814 – 1873), who went on sketching expeditions with Turner and was highly regarded by Ruskin, George Henry Boughton (1833 – 1905) whose paintings are in museums in the USA and Europe, and William Edward Frost (1810-1877) whose female nudes were very popular in the Victorian era are among the 110 lots open to bids online today.

1930s pastels of Moscow by Erna Plachte (German, 1893 – 1986) who was the official painter at the League of Nations and went on to teach at the Ruskin School of Art, are also of interest. She painted this picture (below right) on a trip to the USSR in 1931. Costume designs by Oliver Messel for the 1946 film ‘Caesar and Cleopatra’ might also appeal. Messel was one of Britain’s most celebrated theatrical designers in the middle of the 20th century whose career included designing masks for Diaghilev’s ‘Zephyr et Flore’ in London as well as Hollywood film sets. He is also known for designing a suite at the Dorchester Hotel.

George Duckett says ‘I am delighted to announce my third online paintings auction is now viewable at 25blytheroad.com. There is a charming group of early Victorian watercolours and some affordable works by Royal Academicians as well as a broad selection of decorative oils, watercolours and a selection of prints. I look forward to welcoming you to Blythe Road for our exhibition which is open Saturday 7th December until Monday 9th December.’