Rare 15th century triptych sells for over £5.7 million at auction

A rare 15th-century painting depicting five miracles of Christ has sold for over £5.7 million at auction. This remarkable triptych has endured centuries of religious purges and political turmoil in the Almshouse chapel in Sherborne, Dorset.

The auction, held on Wednesday evening, saw the painting sell for £5.2 million, surpassing the initial valuation set by Sotheby's, which anticipated a price of up to £3.5 million. The Dorset Museum had hoped to appeal to the Arts Council for a temporary export deferral to raise funds needed to keep the piece in the country and publicly displayed. Ultimately, the painting was purchased by a Christian charitable foundation that will cover a total of approximately £5.7 million, including associated fees.

Experts have identified the triptych as the only surviving work from an unknown painter active in Brussels. Mike Burks, who attended the auction on behalf of the Almshouse, described the moment the painting sold as "extraordinary," receiving a round of applause from the audience.

Having been valued during renovation work, the St Johns' Almshouse charity decided to sell the altarpiece to fund new accommodation for those in need. Burks emphasized that the funds will help the community in Sherborne, enabling the conversion of part of the building into self-contained living units. He expressed hope that the sale would ensure long-term financial stability for the charity.

Reflecting on the sale, Burks shared some poignant moments with the painting before and after the auction. He was pleased to learn that the buyer is a Christian charitable foundation, which means the artwork will remain publicly accessible, and there are discussions about displaying it in Sherborne in the future.

The Almshouse itself was established in 1437 under a license from King Henry VI, with patronage from Robert Neville, Bishop of Salisbury. Its mission was to care for "twelve poor feeble and impotent old men and four old women," managed by a housewife responsible for their care. After nearly 600 years of operation, the charity closed its 19 retirement accommodation units in 2023 due to financial challenges. Richard Hunt, chair of the Almshouse Trustees, noted that the sale presents a crucial opportunity to protect the charity's mission for future generations.