David Hockney’s First English Landscape Painting Heads to Sotheby’s London’s Auction Block
“English Garden” (1965) emerges from a private collection for the first time in nearly three decades.
Summary
- David Hockney’s historical 1965 painting “English Garden” is officially slated for auction at Sotheby’s in London
- The piece is expected to fetch between £2.5 million GBP and £3.5 million GBP at the upcoming modern and contemporary evening sale
- Painted from memory while the artist lived in Colorado, the artwork marks a pivotal shift toward his signature landscape explorations
David Hockney’s “English Garden” painting is officially preparing to make its highly anticipated return to the public eye. Slated to hit the block at Sotheby’s modern and contemporary evening auction in London, the 1965 artwork represents the legendary artist’s very first foray into English landscape painting and is estimated to fetch somewhere between £2.5 million GBP and £3.5 million GBP (approximately $3.38 million USD to $4.73 million USD).
Created during a transformative era when abstract art dominated the global market, Hockney’s vivid portrayal of nature added profound new depth to the traditional landscape genre. The artist uniquely painted “English Garden” from memory while residing in Boulder, Colorado. The vibrant composition was heavily inspired by a photograph of English topiary work that Hockney discovered in an issue of American Vogue.
According to Hockney’s 1988 book, the piece was developed concurrently with his renowned “Rocky Mountains and Tired Indians” (1965) painting. The artwork remains a crucial touchstone in his expansive catalog, signaling the rigorous explorations of natural scenes that would ultimately define his storied career.
Held in a private collection since its last auction appearance in 1997, the painting will be displayed in Sotheby’s London galleries ahead of the official sale. The broader auction event will also feature prominent works from the School of London, including pieces by Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud, alongside modernist masterworks by Claude Monet and Edgar Degas.
Hockney’s “English Garden” will hit the Sotheby’s auction block on March 4.
