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Jane Austen portrait sells for £164,500 at Sotheby's Jane Austen portrait sells for £164,500 at Sotheby's
(about 7 hours later)
Sotheby's has sold a watercolour portrait of Jane Austen which is widely acknowledged as the closest likeness of her there is.Sotheby's has sold a watercolour portrait of Jane Austen which is widely acknowledged as the closest likeness of her there is.
The portrait sold for a hammer price of £135,000, or £164,500 including buyer's commission. The original estimate had been £150-200,000. The portrait sold for £135,000, or £164,500 including buyer's commission. The original estimate had been £150,000-£200,000.
The portrait was commissioned by the writer's nephew, James Edward Austen-Leigh, a vicar of Bray, in 1869, more than 50 years after her death. It is based on a not terribly accomplished sketch that Austen's sister Cassandra made from life. The portrait was commissioned by the writer's nephew, James Edward Austen-Leigh, a vicar of Bray, in 1869, more than 50 years after her death. It is based on a not terribly accomplished sketch drawn by that Austen's sister Cassandra drew.
The portrait has been reproduced innumerable times and an engraving of it will be used on the £10 note. Before its sale it had been passed down through the Austen family.The portrait has been reproduced innumerable times and an engraving of it will be used on the £10 note. Before its sale it had been passed down through the Austen family.
Many consider it the best likeness of the elusive Austen we're going to get although it is not to everyone's taste. Paula Byrne, an Austen biographer, called it a "Victorian airbrushing". The portrait is not to everyone's taste. Paula Byrne, an Austen biographer, called it a "Victorian airbrushing".
The novelist Joanna Trollope disagrees. She said: "This portrait was commissioned half a century after Jane Austen's death, so it can hardly be claimed as a life likeness. All the same, it is all we have, and it has a lack of pretension that suits our first properly acclaimed great woman novelist."The novelist Joanna Trollope disagrees. She said: "This portrait was commissioned half a century after Jane Austen's death, so it can hardly be claimed as a life likeness. All the same, it is all we have, and it has a lack of pretension that suits our first properly acclaimed great woman novelist."
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