A work by Charles III of England sold at auction, at 10 times its initial estimate


On October 20, a multiple of King Charles III of England from one of his paintings, a view of Balmoral, was sold at a Bonhams auction. It sold for 10 times its original estimate. It is probably the first work by a king sold at auction.

Bonhams auction house sold, during The Scottish Home auction last Oct. 20, a limited-edition print (the 18th of 100 pieces) from a painting by King Charles III of England, who was known to have long cultivated the activity of amateur painter. It is a view of Balmoral Castle, dating from 2001, and signed in pencil by the current British ruler (“Charles 2001”). The initial estimate was just £600 (about €670), but the work sold for £5,375.50 (about €6,500).

It may be the first work by a king sold in an auction, according to Bonhams. “In as long as I’ve been an auctioneer,” Bonhams’ Hamish Wilson told CNN, “I’ve never seen so many commission bids submitted before an auction”: the reference was to bids received before the live session of the auction. “It speaks for itself,” he added. Suffice it to say that despite an estimate of 600 pounds, the auction opened at 3,000 and lasted several minutes. According to Wilson, the interest in the work, in addition to the fact that it was made by Charles III, may be dictated by the fact that it depicts Balmoral Castle, the place where Queen Elizabeth II, Charles’ mother, spent the last days of her existence before passing away last September at the age of 96.



Charles III has been painting for some time: an exhibition of 79 of his watercolors was also held in January at Garrison Chapel in Chelsea, London. “Painting,” he said on that occasion, “transports me to another dimension.” For King, painting is a pastime that “restores parts of the soul that other activities cannot reach. You become more and more aware of things that might have escaped your attention: the quality of light and shadow, the hues, the texture and shape of buildings. All of this requires intense concentration, and as a result it is one of the most relaxing and therapeutic exercises I have ever done.”

A work by Charles III of England sold at auction, at 10 times its initial estimate
A work by Charles III of England sold at auction, at 10 times its initial estimate


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