Cecil Mandelssohn Round (1865-1933) may not be the most recognisable name in British art, his landscapes whilst of notable artistic merit, certainly don't attract the attention and prestige of a Gainsborough or Constable. Nonetheless this artist does have his very own fan website; www.cecilround.co.uk. This website proudly informs the reader that the artist presented his works at the Royal Academy on six separate occasions between 1885 and 1898.
This riverscape displaying the idyllic English countryside in all its majestic calmness caught my eye whilst browsing the online auction sales. On sale in an auction in Portsmouth, estimated between £100-200, I thought this a modest estimate for a finely painted landscape. I won the lot below the low estimate for just £90. Upon delivery and on closer inspection, however, I noticed some severe over-painting around bottom of the leaves on the tree overhanging the river. This repair job was so crude it looked as though the former owner had taken a tippex pen to the canvas in an act similar to that of a frustrated examination marker.
Despite this black mark (or white spurge in this case) against the painting I got in contact with www.cecilround.co.uk to inform them of the existence of this as yet unknown Cecil Round artwork. They eagerly added the painting to their online gallery, and when I hinted I may want to sell due to the over-painting they said they would inform their members of my painting. No immediate offers were forthcoming, so I got in contact with my local auctioneers in Essex, Sworders auction house, who from the pictures I emailed them set an encouraging estimate of £200-300. On inspection in person however, they too saw the tippex marks, and lowered the estimate to £100-200. The reserve was set at £100 with discretion. With little interest in the room, the painting sold given discretion for £95. A £5 profit on the hammer price, but a £60 loss when all costs considered. ):
It was a bitter pill to swallow, but a valuable lesson learnt. Always inspect a painting in person if possible, or at very least zoom in and try and scrutinise every pixel of the digital image online. If you look close enough, for long enough at the tree overhanging the river, the bodged repair job becomes all too apparent. I now trust that my newly trained eye would be able to spot a similar blemish on an online lot, and given any such doubts, I have often got in contact with the auction house to request a condition report.
In the Round, Cecil's painting cost me money, but more importantly taught me a very valuable lesson. Open your eyes and look!
