Jessica Dismorr’s Self-Portrait Sets New Auction World Record at Bonhams

Woman Seated (Self-Portrait) by Jessica Dismorr | Bonhams

BY ALBERT CHEN

Jessica Dismorr (1885-1939), a pioneering figure in British modern art, has achieved a new auction world record at Bonhams recent Blazing a Trail: Modern British Women auction in London. The sale, which ran online from September 9 to 18, showcased the largest known private collection of works by Dismorr, with the centerpiece, Woman Seated (Self-Portrait), selling for £57,600 (approximately $73,000). The final price far surpassed its pre-sale estimate of £4,000–6,000 (approximately $5,000–$7,600), cementing Dismorr’s position as a significant figure in 20th-century art.

The works came from the Quentin Stevenson Collection, which spanned over two decades of Dismorr’s career and featured 19 pieces. The auction overall achieved a total of £924,660 (approximately $1,170,500), with 82% of lots sold. Notably, more than half of the works sold for amounts at or above their upper estimates, underscoring the strong demand for pieces by British female artists.

Ingram Reid, Head of Bonhams Modern British Art Sale, highlighted the success of the auction. “Over the past four years, our Blazing a Trail series has represented nearly 100 women artists, celebrating their incredible contributions to British art. This year’s sale exceeded expectations, with Jessica Dismorr’s Woman Seated (Self-Portrait) leading the way. Other artists, including Winifred Nicholson, Sophie Ryder, and Emily Young, also performed exceptionally well, reinforcing our position as the leading auction house in this category.”

The auction also featured other notable sales from artists such as Winifred Nicholson, whose Christmas Present fetched £55,200 (approximately $70,000), and Emily Young, whose sculpture Fertility Torso with Head sold for £48,000 (approximately $60,800). Sophie Ryder’s Dancing Hares achieved £40,800 (approximately $51,600), while Sheila Fell’s Village in Cumberland garnered £24,000 (approximately $30,400).

Jessica Dismorr (1885–1939) was a trailblazer in modern art, as one of only two women to join the Vorticist movement and the sole female member of Group X. Her work bridged movements, with exhibitions spanning the Allied Artists Association, the Seven and Five Society, and the London Group. This historic auction not only elevated her legacy but also reaffirmed the growing recognition of modern British women artists.

BY ALBERT CHEN

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