Bloomsbury Auctions' sale of Modern & Contemporary Art on June 27 will feature a group of works from the much-revered Grosvenor School of Modern Art, for which interest has been rising fast in the last decade. Founded in 1925 by artists Cyril E. Power, Claude Flight, Iain McNab and Sybil Andrews, the school was a leader in the creation of modernist print making. Among the expected highlights, “The Tube Train,” circa 1934 (est. £50–70,000), a linocut in printed colors by Powers, whose work was influenced by German Expressionism, the Italian Futurists, and Vorticists. “He encapsulated the spirit of the avant garde movement, capturing the restlessness and dynamism of modern life,” according to Bloomsbury specialists. Another dynamic, linear work by Powers, is “Appy Ampstead,” circa 1933 (est. £30–50,000), said to have been inspired by holiday fair rides in Hampstead Heath.
The sale also features works from top names including Richard Hamilton, whose tri-part Pop art offering “Sign, Carafe and Ashtray,” 1975-9, are all emblazoned with the word “Richard,” and are collectively estimated at £60,000 to £80,000. Another expected gem in the offerings is David Hockney’s “Diploma,” 1962, an etching with aquatint that is expected to bring £12,000 to £18,000, and comes with an interesting backstory. While in his last year at the Royal College of Art, Hockney refused to write the required final essay, insisting that his performance should be judged on his artwork alone. When the school responded by refusing to grant him a diploma, the artist created his own graphic verson, showing downtrodden students, menacing instructors, and the artist himself, dangling haplessly above.