Results: The Grand Tour


February 2026

Last week's Grand Tour Sale brought together objects inspired by the great European journeys of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, when cultured travellers sought education in art, antiquity, architecture and taste. The results reflected the enduring appeal of classical narratives, mythological subjects and refined continental elegance.

Below are some of the standout results from this interiors-led celebration of classical glamour and timeworn splendour.

Epic Narratives & Classical Beauty

Literary drama and Renaissance revival formed a powerful thread throughout the sale. Leading the section was the pair of 18th century oils in the circle of Pompeo Girolamo Batoni, which realised £3,400. Depicting Venus Presenting Aeneas with Armour and Aeneas Slaying Turnus, the canvases illustrate pivotal scenes from Virgil’s Aeneid. The former captures the divine intervention of Venus in Book VIII, while the latter portrays the climactic duel of Book XII. Rich in theatrical tension and classical reference, the pair exemplified the kind of mythological storytelling that Grand Tour collectors so prized.

A more intimate but no less evocative work followed in William Etty RA’s oil sketch, The Bathing Nymph, which sold for £1,800. Etty’s luminous handling of the nude form, combined with notable provenance linking the work to Father John O’Connor, lends the panel both artistic and historical intrigue. Completing the trio was an early 19th century oil after Sebastiano del Piombo, La Fornarina, which achieved £1,200. Referencing the celebrated Renaissance original now in the Uffizi, the portrait’s fur trimmed costume and poised elegance reflect the enduring fascination with High Renaissance ideals among later collectors.

Together, these works reaffirmed the market’s appetite for pieces steeped in classical narrative and Old Master tradition.

Bronze Mastery & Mythological Drama

Sculpture played a central role in the sale, echoing the taste for bronze and marble that defined eighteenth century interiors. Walter Winans’ bronze The Centauress realised £1,900. Dated 1915, the finely modelled figure of a rare female centaur merges classical mythology with Winans’ characteristic fluid naturalism, offering a striking reinterpretation of ancient subject matter.

Equally commanding was Emmanuele Villanis’ monumental Art Nouveau bronze La Sibylle, which sold for £1,800. Standing 72cm high, the prophetic figure recalls the Sibyl of Cumae consulted by Aeneas in Virgil’s epic, reinforcing the literary thread that ran throughout the sale. In a more dynamic register, After Jef Lambeaux’s bronze group The Wrestlers achieved £1,100. The muscular, classically nude figures locked in struggle evoke the ancient pankration and may allude to the myth of Hercules and Antaeus. Its powerful composition reflects the Grand Tour fascination with heroic form and physical drama.

These sculptural works demonstrated that mythological and classical themes continue to command attention in today’s interiors market.

Objects of Empire & Enlightenment

No Grand Tour would be complete without tangible links to the ancient world and to the great collectors who shaped taste. A highlight of the sale was Suetonius’ 1690 first edition of Opera, inscribed by Sir William and Lady Emma Hamilton in Naples in 1797. This exceptional association copy sold for £5,000. Combining classical scholarship with one of Britain’s most compelling historical couples, the volume perfectly embodied the intellectual and romantic spirit of the era.

From imperial Rome itself came a silver denarius of Augustus, which realised £950. Struck around 19–18 BC, the coin’s depiction of the Temple of Mars Ultor offers a direct and powerful connection to the ancient world that Grand Tourists sought to study and collect. Rounding out the section was a 20th century Italian neoclassical console table, sold for £1,100. Inspired by Roman architectural prototypes, with marble top and scagliola type finish enriched with gilt acanthus and garlands, the piece demonstrates how classical motifs continue to shape decorative design well beyond the eighteenth century.

Together, these results underline the enduring appeal of objects that speak to scholarship, history and cultivated taste.
The success of The Grand Tour Sale confirms the continuing strength of the market for classical subjects, mythological sculpture, antiquarian books and refined neoclassical interiors pieces. Collectors remain drawn to works that combine narrative depth, historical resonance and decorative presence. We are actively inviting entries of classical, neoclassical and antiquarian works for our forthcoming regular and specialist sales.

If you are considering selling, our specialists would be delighted to provide advice and valuations. Pieces shaped by antiquity, literature and continental elegance continue to perform strongly, and we welcome enquiries from private collectors, estates and those seeking the right audience for their treasures.
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