 At Sotheby's in 2003, Bearnes 2004 and 2008, his paintings and private library raised £2.1 million.A number of myths have arisen surrounding the artist's unusual barter economics, such as that Lenkiewicz "never" paid tax or kept any records of sales of his works; indeed, it is sometimes claimed that he never sold his work at all despite all his exhibition lists now in the public domain bearing prices.It is the case, however, that Lenkiewicz operated a system of patronage whereby a long-term collector or interested buyer would be handed a bill or two to be settled on behalf of the painter.