Detail
of Lot 13
The
catalogue notes that this monumental albeit small study sold for
$247,500 in 1980. The modest estimate now is $800,000 to
$1,200,000. It
sold for $905,000 including the buyer's premium as do all results
mentioned in this article.
Lot 35, "Lake
in the Sierra Nevada," by Albert Bierstadt, oil on canvas 21 7/8 by 30
inches, 1867
Lot
35 is an excellent oil on canvas by Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902) of a
"Lake in the Sierra Nevada" that is notable for his marvelous
handling of the sunset's glow. It has an estiatme
of
$1,500,000 to $2,500,000. It
sold for $2,105,000.
Lot 46,
"Grand Canyon in Mist," by Thomas Moran, oil on panel, 13 3/4 by 20 1/8
inches, 1915
Another
classic Western landscape is Lot 46, "Grand Canyon in Mist," by Thomas
Moran (1837-1926). An oil on panel, it measures 13 3/4 by 20
1/8
inches and was painted in 1915. It was once in the collection
of
Governor Ernest Whitworth Marland of Oklahoma and later the
Middendorf Gallery in Washington, D.C. It has an estimate of
$800,000 to $1,200,000. It
sold for $1,445,000.
Lot 37, "The
Wilderness," by Sanford Robinson Gifford, oil on canvas, 12 by 22
inches, 1861
The
most exquisite work in the auction is Lot 37, "The Wilderness," by
Sanford Robinson Gifford (1823-1880). An oil on canvas, it
measures 12 by 22 inches and was painted in 1861. It was
included
in the major Gifford exhibition in 2003 and 2004 at the Metropolitan
Museum of Art, the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, and the
National Gallery of Art. It has a modest estimate of $800,000
to
$1,200,000. It
sold for $965,000.
Lot 17,
"White Orchid and Hummingbird," by Martin J. Heade, oil on canvas, 20
by 12 inches
Lot 17 is a fine
oil on canvas of a "White Orchid and Hummingbird" by Martin J. Heade
(1818-1904). It measures 20 by 12 inches. It has an
estimate of $900,000 to $1,200,000. It sold for $1,205,000.
Lot 65,
"Landscape Sketch," by Thomas Cole, oil on paper laid down on board, 6
by 8 inches
Lot 65 is a very
good "Landscape Sketch" by Thomas Cole (1801-1848). An oil on
paper laid down on board, it measures 6 by 8 inches It has a
modest estimate of $30,000 to $50,000. It sold for $35,000.
Lot 18, "Tiger Lillies," by John
Henry Twachtman, oil on canvas, 30 by 25 inches, circa late 1890s
Lot 18 is an
excellent, very colorful and large painting of "Tiger Lillies" by John
Henry Twachtman (1853-1902). An oil on canvas, it measures 30
by 25 inches and was painted circa late 1890s. It has an
estimate of $300,000 to $400,000. It
sold for $269,000.
Lot 12, "A
June Day," by George Inness, oil on canvas, 24 by 30 inches, 1881
Lot 12 is a bright and
superb landscape by George Inness (1825-1894). Entitled "A
June Day," it is an oil on canvas that measures 24 by 30 inches.
Detail of Lot
12
It was painted
in 1881. It has a modest estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. It sold for $305,000.
Lot 41, "Men
O'War: The Blake and The Boston," by Childe Hassam, oil on canvas, 18
1/8 by 22 1/4 inches, 1893
Lot 42 is a very
good riverscape by Childe Hassam (1859-1935) entitled "Men O'War: The
Blake and The Boston." An oil on canvas, it measures 18 1/8
by 22 1/4 inches and was painted in 1893. It has an estimate
of 4300,000 to $500,000. It
sold for $341,000.
Lot 19,
"Contemplation (Woman Seated Next to Birdcage)," by Richard Edward
Miller, oil on canvas, 39 1/2 by 31 3/4 inches, circa 1913
Richard Edward
Miller (1875-1943) is one of the very best American Impressionists
whose works are extremely painterly and have wonderfully tight
compositions and very beautiful woman in very beautiful clothes.
Lot 19 is a fine example of his skills. Entitled
"Contemplation (Woman Seated Next to Birdcage)," it is an oil on canvas
that measures 39 1/2 by 31 3/4 inches and it was painted circa 1913.
It hasa modest estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. It sold for $509,000.
Lot 3, "The
Heart of the Rose,' by Elihu Vedder, oil on canvas, 13 inches square,
1891-2
Lot 3 is a great
small oil on canvas by Elihu Vedder (1836-1923). Entitled
"The Heart of the Rose," it measures 13 inches square and was painted
1891-2. It has an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000. It sold for $50,000.

Lot
32, "Lattice and Awning," by Arthur Garfield Dove, oil on canvas, 22 by
36 inches, 1941
Lot
32 is a large and late and very fine abstraction by Arthur Garfield
Dove (1880-1946) that is entitled "Lattice and Awning." An
oil on
canvas, it measures 22 by 36 inches and was painted in 1941.
It
has an estimate of $1,200,000 to $1,800,000. It sold for $1,685,000.
Lot 10,
"Saying Grace," by Norman Rockwell, an oil on canvas, 43 by 41
inches, 1951
The cover
illustration of the catalogue is Lot 10, "Saving Grace," by Norman
Rockwell (1894-1978). An oil on canvas that measures 43 by 41
inches, it was painted in 1951 and has been widely exhibited and
published. It appeared on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post
magazine November 24, 1951. It is one of several Rockwell
works consigned to this auction by the descendants of Kenneth J. Stuart
Jr., the art director of the Saturday Evening Post.
Between 1916 and 1963, Rockwell painted 322 covers for the magazine and
in 1958 the magazine asked its readers to select their favorite
Rockwell cover and this painting was chosen by 32 percent of those
voting. For many of his works, Rockwell commissioned
photographs of models he had selected for his compositions.
It has an estimate of $15,000,000 to $20,000,000. It sold for
$46,085,000, an auction record for the artist whose previous auction
record was $15.4 million for "Breaking Home Times," at Sotheby's in
2006. The sales price was also a record for any work offered
at an American Art auction.
Lot 23,
"Walking to Church," by Norman Rockwell, oil on canvas, 19 by 18
inches, 1953
Another Rockwell
work consigned by the Stuart family is Lot 23, "Walking to Church, an
oil on canvas that measures 19 by 18 inches and was painted in 1953.
It has an estimate of $3,000,000 to $5,000,000. It sold for $3,245,000.
Lot 16, "The
Gossips," by Norman Rockwell, oil on canvas, 33 by 31 inches, 1948
Another Rockwell
painting consigned by the Stuart family is Lot 16, "The Gossips," an
oil on canvas that measures 33 by 31 inches. It was painted
in 1948. It has an estimate of $6,000,000 to $9,000,000.
It sold for
$8,453,000.