New Acquisition - Nightingale Night VII

I don't think it's made headline news in the international art market but a new record was set earlier this week when I paid more than I've ever done before for an art work, Nightingale Night VII by Maggi Hambling. While the price paid can easily be found from the Pallant House Gallery shop, it goes undisclosed here except to say i8t is the year's profit from the turf or this month's Premium Bond pay out but not both.

Some philistines might say any child could produce such a daub when first presented with paint and canvas, as they might produce something superficially like some contemporary classical music if given an instrument, but I've long wanted some sort of authentic Maggi on a wall so it's another ambition achieved.

It's not yet ideally framed but we'll see about that. The handwritten, signed poem, The Wound by Thom Gunn, has moved across to the wall at the side to make way for it in the prime spot above the computer.