Allan Ramsey: £289,250

This Self-portrait (1749) by Scottish artist Allan Ramsay does look worth its auction price of £289,250. No stupid gimmicks; no trendy nonsense; just a magnificent painting. It went to an anonymous bidder at Christie's auction of Scottish art at the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh, yesterday. The original is at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Dr John Ward ordered this copy of the original from Ramsey in 1749.