WILLOUGHBY, OHIO — Midway through Fusco Auctions’ May 31 sale, a painting by Angelica Kauffmann (1741–1807) crossed the block and caught everyone’s attention.

The portrait of “Mary Daughter of Rt. Hon. Philip Tisdale,” 1772, was far and away the top lot of the auction when it attained $44,000 from a gallery owner in England on the phone. Drawing three phone bidders, the painting shot up in bids quickly from the opening $10,000. It had come to auction from a northeast Ohio estate that needed to be settled. The consignor’s family had purchased the work in the 1980s. Philip Tisdale was an attorney general and secretary of state for Ireland, circa 1770–1777.

The sale saw some 50 buyers in the gallery and another 500 bidding online. Another lot of interest was a bronze of Roman gladiators that took $3,000.

All prices reported include the buyer’s premium.

For more information, 440-975-8938.