An early work by David Hockney, the renowned British painter who died last week at the age of 88, sold for £40,000 at auction—four times its estimated value. The piece, titled *Bolton Junction, Eccleshill, Bradford*, was created in 1954 when Hockney was just 19 years old and was expected to fetch between £7,000 and £10,000. The sale took place Friday at Tennants Auctioneers in Leyburn, North Yorkshire, just two days after the artist’s passing.

The mixed media artwork dates from Hockney’s time as a student at the Bradford School of Art, where he studied after convincing his mother to allow him to attend rather than take a job. The painting had remained in the possession of the family of Malcolm Riley, one of Hockney’s instructors, who originally purchased the piece from Hockney’s end-of-year show.

Born in Eccleshill in 1937, Hockney attended Wellington Primary School and Bradford Grammar School before pursuing his art studies in the city. He went on to achieve international acclaim, particularly noted for his vibrant depictions of California’s pools and palm trees after moving there. However, his early muse was firmly rooted in Yorkshire, the region he would later return to and celebrate in a series of large-scale works focused on the arrival of spring.

Francesca Young, a modern and contemporary art specialist at Tennants, described overseeing the sale as a “somewhat poignant honour” following the artist’s death. She emphasized Hockney’s stature as both one of the greatest British artists of the 20th century and a “true Yorkshire icon,” noting that the painting offers a rare glimpse into his formative years. Young also remarked on Hockney’s enduring humility and strong connection to his Yorkshire roots, qualities that have endeared him to local communities.

The Bradford School of Art, where the early work was produced, later became integrated into Bradford College. Hockney’s legacy, spanning from his roots in northern England to his celebrated career abroad and eventual return to his homeland, continues to be reflected in the demand for and value of his artwork.