The 19th Century European, Victorian and British Impressionist Art sale in London on 2 March saw top prices paid for works by, among others, Alfred Munnings, Edward Lear and the French painter Jean Discart. In total, the sale made more than £2m.

The Cobbler, Tangiers by Jean Discart - a fine work by the highly gifted French orientalist painter - was estimated at £40,000-60,000 but sold for £140,500 after fierce bidding in the sale room and online. Director of Bonhams 19th Century Paintings Department, Charles O'Brien, commented, "high quality Orientalist paintings are always in demand and this typical example of Discart's work was keenly sought after."

Sir Alfred Munnings' Portrait of Mrs Abigail Prince also carried a pre-sale estimate of £40,000-60,000. The striking depiction of the American socialite riding through the sun-dappled woods on her Massachusetts estate, Princemere, was sold for £122,500.

Corfu, an atmospheric work by Edward Lear far exceeded its pre-sale estimate of £40,000-60,000 to sell for £112,900. Although celebrated for his limericks and nonsense rhymes, Lear was a serious and successful topographical artist all his life and his works are in strong demand.
Other highlights of the sale included La Nuit by Henri Fantin-Latour which sold for £98,500 and Dorothea Sharp's charming In the Shallows which also sold for £98,500.

Charles O'Brien, said, "The success of this sale showed again that fair estimates and high quality works will attract strong bidding and secure good prices."