Unlikely Masterpiece: Bernard Cohen's Abstract Painting Up for Auction

A previously unknown abstract painting by leading British artist Bernard Cohen (1933-2014) has surfaced at a Louth auction, having narrowly escaped destruction. The untitled 1972 piece, which is expected to generate international interest, was discovered in an attic in France and was nearly thrown away before being saved by chance. Cohen's work is held in prestigious collections worldwide, including the Tate, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Mellon Collection at Yale University. The painting is a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire a piece by a leading artist of the 1960s and 1970s.

Key Takeaways:

• Bernard Cohen (1933-2014) was a leading British abstract artist of the 1960s and 1970s, with work held in collections worldwide.
• The 1972 painting, which is signed and dated, is a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire a piece by a leading artist of the era.
• The painting was discovered in an attic in France and narrowly escaped destruction before being saved by chance.
• Cohen's work has achieved results ranging from a few hundred pounds to multiple thousands at auction.
• The major markets for Cohen paintings are, in order of importance, Britain, the United States, and France.
• The auction will take place on November 11 at John Taylors Auction Rooms in Louth, with viewing sessions on November 9 and 10.
• The auction includes a number of prints of Lincolnshire scenes, including a view of the thatched Old Vicarage House, the home of the Reverend Wolley Jolland.
• The jewelry and silver section includes an impressive silver bowl, the Navy Cup awarded at the Hong Kong Races of 1902.
• The furniture section includes a beautiful William IV library table and five long cases, including a Boston clock and a precision regulator from the 1860s.

Statistics:

• Born in London of Polish-Russian parents, Cohen studied at the Slade and would later teach and become professor and director.
• Cohen's work has been exhibited at the Hayward Gallery in London, with a major retrospective staged in 1972.
• The average price of a Cohen painting at auction is in the range of £1,000 to £5,000.
• The auction is expected to attract international interest, with a major market for Cohen's paintings in Britain, the United States, and France.

Sources:

• Bernard Cohen (1933-2014), artist and professor.
• John Taylors Auction Rooms, Louth.
• Slade art school.
• Tate, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Mellon Collection at Yale University.