Collection of legendary Scottish dealer William Hardie comes to auction

William (Bill) Hardie spent over five decades in the art world with his career spanning the academic, curatorial and commercial sphere.

Growing up in the west of Scotland, he had an eye for paintings and an ear for languages from an early age, translating a book on German Expressionism at the age of just 18. Becoming a fine art researcher at Glasgow University, he was later  appointed Keeper and Deputy Director of Dundee Art Gallery in 1968. Crossing over to the auction world, he joined Christie’s in 1977, becoming a director and setting up the Scottish picture department which he ran until 1984, helping put groups such as the Scottish Colourists and the Glasgow Boys firmly on the map.

Leaving to set up William Hardie Fine Art in Glasgow, his gallery in West Regent Street became renowned for its discoveries and exhibitions. The gallery finally closed in 2008, having earlier located in West Nile Street, although Hardie continued to research and write following his retirement as a dealer.

The sale at Great Western Auctions on August 28 comprises 291 lots from his collection, mostly pictures but also some furniture, ceramics and books. Here we pick out five lots to give you a flavour of what’s coming up.

1. Arts and Crafts sideboard

The William Hardie sale includes 40 furniture lots with a number of pieces in the Arts and Crafts or Art Deco styles.

Examples include a striking Liberty of London oak sideboard, pictured above, which features an overhanging cornice above a leaded glass door, flanked by open shelves. The base has a drawer and two doors, applied with hammered oxidised metal mounts.

Very much in the Arts and Crafts style, it measures 6ft 2in (1.87m) high and is estimated at £600-800.

View the catalogue entry for this Arts and Crafts sideboard on thesaleroom.com.

2. William Hardie portrait

A portrait of William Hardie by John Byrne – estimated at £4000-6000 at Great Western Auctions.

This portrait of William Hardie himself by John Byrne appears on the front cover of his 2017 book Gallery: A Life in Art which records Hardie’s 50 years in the art world.

A label to the reverse implies that the 65 x 45cm oil on canvas was painted to mark the 50th birthday of the sitter.

It is estimated at £4000-6000.

View the catalogue entry for this portrait of William Hardie on thesaleroom.com.

3. Butterfly and wildflowers

‘Butterfly and Wildflowers’ by Steven Campbell – estimated at £150-200 at Great Western Auctions.

Steven Campbell (1953-2007) was the among the ‘new generation’ of Scottish artists for whom William Hardie staged successful exhibitions.

This 8in x 11.25in (20 x 28.5cm) mixed media work is among eight works by the artist at the Great Western Auctions sale.

Titled Butterfly and Wildflowers, it is estimated at £150-200.

View the catalogue entry for this Steven Campbell painting on thesaleroom.com.

4. Portrait of a writer

Pen and ink drawing of Francis Brett Harte by one George Leslie Hunter – estimated at £400-600 at Great Western Auctions.

Works by some major names appear in the William Hardie sale. This drawing of the American writer and poet Francis Brett Harte (also known as ‘Bret Harte’) is by one of the four great Scottish Colourists, George Leslie Hunter (1877-1931).

The pen and ink drawing measures 11.5 x 8in (29 x 20cm) and is signed and dated 99.

It is estimated at £400-600.

View the catalogue entry for this George Leslie Hunter drawing on thesaleroom.com.

5. West Highlands sunset

‘Sunset in the West Highlands’ by Donald Bain – estimated at £300-500 at Great Western Auctions.

The Scottish artist Donald Bain (1904-79) is among the most represented artists in the William Hardie sale with 44 lots on offer.

Among them is this 9.5 x 17.75in (24 x 45cm) oil on board from 1941 titled Sunset in the West Highlands. It has featured in exhibitions of the artist’s work at the MacLellan Galleries in 1952 as well as at The Collins Gallery at Glasgow’s University of Strathclyde in 2000.

It is estimated at £300-500.

View the catalogue entry for this Donald Bain painting on thesaleroom.com.