AN early 19th century painting of Richmond market place is expected to fetch up to £2,000 when it goes under the hammer in Nottingham later this month.

The pen and watercolour picture, entitled Market Day, Richmond, Yorkshire, is by Julius Caesar Ibbetson, the son of an artist of the same name, and was painted around 1820.

Ibbetson, who lived from 1783-1825, taught drawing in Richmond and was renowned for his architectural style and closely drawn detail.

The scene is a view from King Street and shows market traders setting out their stalls at 7.30.

Visible is the obelisk, the King's Head hotel, the church tower and toll booth and Richmond castle keep in the background.

Businesses depicted include Sadler's shop, Dale's drapery and Lambert, the hairdresser, and characters include the town crier and a pick-pocket.

"The painting turned out to be rather more interesting than we had hoped and we revised the estimate from £600-£800 to £1,500-£2,000," said Mr Brett Tryner, of Neale's, which runs the two-day fine art sale on September 20 and 21. The painting is lot 732 on day two of the sale.