A painting that formed part of a Paisley Art Institute collection that went up for auction has sold for more than half a million.

The painting by Sir John Lavery depicts Paisley socialites at a tennis party in 1899 and achieved a price of £537,700.

Paisley Lawn Tennis Club by the Belfast-born ‘Glasgow Boy’ led an auction of selected works from the prestigious collection, ‘Taste for Art: Selected Works from the Paisley Art Institute Collection’.

Scottish Colourist F.C.B Cadell’s stunning portrait of a woman entitled Pink and Gold also sold for £250,200 while George Henry’s Banks of Allan Water triptych sold privately to a Scottish collector for £237,650.

The forgotten masterpiece was created in 1888 and the sale meant the three works were kept together, as the artist originally envisaged and the PAI hoped for when putting it up for sale.

The buyer, who is based in Scotland, has expressed the hope it will be displayed at some point in a public institution. 

(Image: Stewart Attwood/Lyon & Turnbull)

Commenting on the sale of Henry’s three linked paintings which illustrate spring, autumn and winter from a popular contemporary ballad about the central Scottish waterway, PAI President Joe Hargan said: “We, the Trustees of the PAI, are delighted that George Henry’s concept of the triptych has been bought as a whole. The best result for a wonderful work and our thanks go to the patron.”

Other highlights included Sir James Gutherie’s The Stonebreaker being sold for £75,200, David Forrester Wilson’s Pasing Day selling for £57,700 and Sir Joseph Noel Paton’s Michaelangelo Sculpting the Statue of Night going for £47,700.

Prior to the sale it had been hoped that the sale of works would raise around £1 million and that’s exactly what it did do with the art selling for £1.63million.

The art represented around a quarter of PAI’s total collection and a sizeable portion of the money will contribute to the ongoing effort to secure the 148-year-old artist-led charity’s future.

Nick Curnow, Head of Fine Art at Lyon & Turnbull, said: “It was a delight to be on the rostrum and see so much interest in a wonderful range of Scottish artists. It was particularly heartening to see such appreciation for works by Glasgow Girls, Stansmore Richmond Leslie Dean and Olive Carleton Smyth, as well as determined bidding for David Forrester Wilson, F.C.B Cadell and Stanley Curister.”  

James McNaught Associate Director with Lyon & Turnbull said: “Lyon & Turnbull was delighted to offer a fantastic selection of works from the illustrious PAI collection. The funds raised from the sale will continue the work of the PAI supporting artists across Scotland.”

The institute had previously enjoyed a strong working relationship with the Paisley Museum, which members viewed as their 'home' and with the collection among the museum's primary attractions.

However, a row ensued when plans were revealed for the newly upgraded, £45million Paisley Museum. PAI claimed that a contractual agreement guaranteed use of six galleries as display space for exhibitions. Insiders at Renfrewshire Council denied the existence of any relevant documentation.

OneRen, the charitable trust which manages leisure, culture and sporting opportunities in Renfrewshire, said that PAI had been offered the "large, prominent Balcony Gallery" within the building as an exhibition space. This offer was turned down by PAI.

Mrs Anne Hargan of the PAI told the Herald in June 2023: "The Fine Art Institute has given so much to Paisley over its long history and we are not against any attempt to breathe new life into the town with an investment of money - but it cannot be at the cost of our organisation.

"At the moment, the plans for Paisley Museum leave us as a casualty of the refurbishment. They have not been explicit in explaining that the exhibits in the museum will be permanent with no room for our collection in the galleries."

In response, a spokesperson for OneRen, which oversaw the museum refurbishment and now operates the attraction, said:  "The museum is for all of Paisley and it will reflect all of the communities it serves – indeed, we have engaged with more than 70 community groups to shape the audience offer. 

"The PAI is a key part of our cultural heritage and we hope that they will work with us to tell the stories of the town’s incredible artists and artistic legacy."

With the museum now open, PAI has formed a partnership with the Glasgow Art Club, moving its collection into the Glasgow club's Bath Street premises. The auction of paintings will allow PAI to meet rising costs.