Work of leading artists donated tobe sold at vital fundraising auction

The grant was made by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Catalyst and Endowments funding program.

The grant is conditional on Pallant House Gallery matching pound for pound the £1 million grant with money from private funding by 2016, and their target is in sight!

The first lots under the hammer are at Sotheby’s this week in London, in their Modern & Post War British Art sale.

Closer to home a second auction of works is being held by Toovey’s Fine Art Auctioneers. Bidding has just gone live for this on-line sale. Work has been donated to the auction by artists and patrons. Lots include pictures by Norman Ackroyd, Peter Blake, Patrick Caulfield, Dennis Creffield, Laura Ford, Anna Fox, Jeremy Gardiner, Henry Inlander, Kurt Jackson, Ed Kluz, Henry Moore, Celia Paul, Eduardo Paolozzi, Bruce Rae, David Remfry and Bouke de Vries.

Many of these artists are represented in the gallery’s own collection, or have strong associations with Pallant House’s work.

Amongst my favourites is the bold screen print from 1992, ‘Red Jug and Lamp’, by Patrick Caulfield. The striking economy of line used by this English painter and printmaker is typical of his work. The screen print ‘The Beatles 1962’, by Sir Peter Blake, is a final stage proof signed by this leading British Pop Artist. This iconic image was commissioned by Pallant House Gallery in 2012.

I love Ed Kluz’s work. His pictures provide a fresh voice in the British Romantic tradition. He reinterprets the picturesque uniting us, in our imaginations, with our sense of place in the procession of human history. This talented artist, illustrator and designer brings an antiquarian’s eye to our topography and architecture. The aesthetic of Ed Kluz’s ‘Ilford Manor, Somerset’, donated by the artist to the sale, captures his thoughts and emotional response, as well as the essence of the physical reality. These themes and responses belong to the Romantic tradition. Kluz seeks to look beyond what is immediately apparent, to the spirit of the place.

Simon Martin, Artistic Director at Pallant House Gallery commented ‘The auctions represent a remarkable opportunity for us to reach our target. The donations we have received from major artists reflect just how much the Gallery is valued by the artistic community.’

The funds from the auctions will go to Pallant House Gallery’s endowment fund which was established in 2002. Pallant House Gallery receives no direct subsidies from central Government. The appeal aims, with the HLF Catalyst Appeal match funding, to consolidate a secure funding base to ensure the gallery is able to continue to deliver its successful exhibitions and award-winning learning and community programmes, as well as conserving its important collections.

I am delighted that Toovey’s are donating their expertise and services to this important appeal. Lots being auctioned by Toovey’s will be on view at Pallant House Gallery, 9 North Pallant, Chichester, PO19 1TJ, from November 20 to 27 .

All the bidding is online and finishes at 7.30pm on Friday, November 27. You can bid online by going to www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/tooveys, registering, and clicking on the sale.

n Rupert Toovey is a senior director of Toovey’s, the leading fine art auction house in West Sussex, based on the A24 at Washington - www.tooveys.com - and a priest in the Church of England Diocese of Chichester.