A large original painting of Scafell Crag by the renowned mountain artist Julian Cooper is to be sold to raise money for The Mountain Heritage Trust at an upcoming sale at Mitchells.
The trust commissioned the artwork in 2000 and it has hung in the atrium of Rheged, near Penrith, since then Prime Minister Tony Blair unveiled it at the centre’s opening in 2001.
Measuring around 4 metres high and 3 metres wide, the large oil on canvas painting shows Scafell Crag in the distance with Pikes Crag in the foreground.
The figures depicted in the artwork are of some of the artist’s friends and family who posed for the painting by climbing the routes of Moss Ghyll Grooves on Scafell Crag, and Crenation Ridge on Pikes Crag.
His niece Rebecca Heaton Cooper is the figure scrambling up the gully in the foreground.
Cooper is regarded as one of the most accomplished mountain painters whose approach is distinctly that of a climber.
“You’re handling raw material,” he has said in the past. “dealing with a vertical surface. A vertical crag is just like a huge abstract painting, processed by time.”
The painting has an estimate of £10,000 to £15,000 with all proceeds going to support the work of The Mountain Heritage Trust based in Threlkeld.
The trust’s collections manager, David Johnston-Smith, said: “The Mountain Heritage Trust is excited by the forthcoming sale.
“With the painting finding a new owner, the trust will be able to further their important aims of preserving, conserving and cataloguing their outstanding collection of archives and objects related to British mountaineering and climbing that are held at its accommodation in the Blencathra Field Studies Centre in Threlkeld.”
Also for sale with proceeds to the trust will be a painting of Birkness Combe by the renowned Cumbrian rock climber and artist Bill Peascod (1920-1985).
The artwork was originally donated to the British Mountaineering Council by the artist and hung in its previous headquarters in Manchester. The painting measures 165 x 125cm and it is hoped will raise £5,000 to £8,000 for the Mountain Heritage Trust.
Both paintings will be sold on the second day of Mitchells three-day Antiques & Fine Art Sale which takes place from Wednesday November 27 to Friday November 29.
A pencil drawing by LS Lowry (1887-1976) depicting Maryport – The Estuary, with an estimate of £25,000 to £35,000 will also be auctioned in the same sale.
The drawing was previously sold at Sotheby’s in 1998, then Richard Green Bond Street in London and Castlegate House Gallery in Cockermouth.
In September, a painting by by LS Lowry and Geoffrey Bennett made £23,500 at Mitchells.
Lots for the Mitchells Antiques & Fine Art Sale will be on view at the auction house’s Cockermouth saleroom from Sunday November 24 from 11am to 3pm, Monday November 25 and Tuesday November 26 from 10am to 5pm, plus throughout the sale each day.
A fully illustrated catalogue can be viewed online at www.the-saleroom.com/Mitchells from two weeks prior to the sale where buyers can also register to bid live during the sale or leave automatic bids in advance.
Alternatively, those unable to attend the sale can arrange to bid by telephone or leave commission bids in advance by contacting the saleroom.
For more information about lots featured in the auction and condition reports contact James Moore on 01900 827800.
