Lot 15, "October on Cape Cod," by Edward Hopper, oil on canvas, 26 1/4 by 42 1/4 inches, 1946
By Carter B. Horsley
The November 28,
2012 auction of American Paintings at Christie's New York is
highlighted by great works by Stuart Davis, William Glackens
and Charles Demuth, nice works by Georgia O'Keeffe, Arthur Dove, Edward
Hopper and Childe Hassam, and stunning examples by Everett Shinn,
Francis Silva and Albert Bierstadt.
Lot
15, "October on Cape Cod," is a nicely frozen landscape by Edward
Hopper. An oil on canvas from 1946, it measures 26 1/4 by 42 1/4
inches and has been widely published and exhibited. It has an
estimate of $8,000,000 to $12,000,000. It
sold $9,602,500 including the buyer's premium as do all results
mentioned in this article. It was sold to an online buyer, the
highest such sale, according to the auction house.
The sale total was $38,463,650 and about 71 percent of the offered lots sold.
It is a simple but very sophisticated composition with a very warm palette. The slight diagonal line of the road at the bottom of the picture nicely complements the sharp slopes of the roofs of the two small structures and the thin red accent at the base of the larger building is very bold and dramatic. It rings the dinner bell! Much of the magic of Hopper's best paintings has to do with his handling of light and here the sky streaks but the white house stands out brightly and solidly against the dark woods. There is a cold, haunting clarity about the scene as if autofocus did its snapshot trick.
The sale total was $38,463,650 and about 71 percent of the offered lots sold.
It is a simple but very sophisticated composition with a very warm palette. The slight diagonal line of the road at the bottom of the picture nicely complements the sharp slopes of the roofs of the two small structures and the thin red accent at the base of the larger building is very bold and dramatic. It rings the dinner bell! Much of the magic of Hopper's best paintings has to do with his handling of light and here the sky streaks but the white house stands out brightly and solidly against the dark woods. There is a cold, haunting clarity about the scene as if autofocus did its snapshot trick.
Lot 18, "Barn at Essex," by Edward Hopper, watercolor and pencil on paper, 16 by 25 inches, 1929
A
fine pendant to Lot 15 is Lot 18, Barn at Essex," a watercolor and
pencil on paper that Hopper painted 17 years earlier, in 1929. It
is similar in subject matter and general palette and emotional tone.
It is realistic and also a very strong composition about very
simple structures that is evocative of the wonder of light and
architecture without the distraction of human beings. Many of
Hopper's finest works, of course, have people, sunbathing, drinking
coffee, watching a movie. It is interesting that the people-less
works are almost as intriguing. This watercolor has been widely
published and exhibited. It has an estimate of $800,000 to
$1,200,000. It sold for $1,762,500, an impressive price when compared to the larger oil of Lot 15.
Lot 13, "Sun Water Maine," by Georgia O'Keeffe, pastel on paper laid down on board, 19 by 25 1/4 inches, 1922
The
cover illustration of the catalogue is Lot 13, "Sun Water Maine," by
Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986), an impressive pastel on paper laid down
on board that measures 19 by 25 1/4 inches It was painted in
1922. It has been widely exhibited and published. It has an
estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,200,000. It sold for $2,210,500.
Lot 21, "The Black Place," by Georgia O'Keeffe, pastel on paper, 27 3/4 by 43 3/4 inches, 1945
Lot
21 is a another large pastel by O'Keeffe. It has wonderfully
entitled "The Black Place" and it measures 27 3/4 by 43 3/4 inches.
It was painted in 1945 and was once in the collection of Tom
Slick Jr. of Dallas and it has been widely exhibited and published.
It is similar but considerably softer than a better version of
the same scene in oil by O'Keeffe that is in the collection of
the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. The catalogue provides a quotation
from the artist that said that "The Black Place is about one hundred
and fifty miles from Ghost Ranch and as you come to it over a hill, it
looks like a mile of elephants - gray hills all about the same size
with almost white sand at their feet." The lot has and an
estimate of $1,500,000 to $2,500,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 8, "Car," by Arthur Dove, oil on canvas, 13 1/4 by 22 inches, 1931
Lot
8 is a very good composition by Arthur Dove (1880-1946) entitled
"Car." An oil on canvas, it measures 13 1/4 by 22 inches and was
painted in 1931. It was once in the collection of Duncan Phillips
of Washington D.C., and has been widely exhibited and published.
It has a modest estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. It sold for $686,500.
Lot 9, "Mural Detail #2," by Stuart Davis, oil on canvas, 14 1/4 by 18 1/4 inches, 1957-8
Lot
9 is a very vibrant and bold abstraction by Stuart Davis (1892-1964)
that was painted in 1957-8. It is entitled "Mural Detail #2," and
is an oil on canvas that measures 14 1/4 by 18 1/4 inches The
mural was for the lobby of the Heinz Research Center in Pittsburgh.
Davis often, as here, prominently displayed his signature as a
major design element. The very handsome work has an estimate of
$300,000 to $500,000. It sold for $782,500.
Lot 72, "Children - Washington Square Park," by William Glackens, oil on canvas, 25 by 30 inches, circa 1914
Lot 72, "Children - Washington Square Park," by William Glackens, oil on canvas, 25 by 30 inches, circa 1914
Lot
72 is a great oil on canvas by William Glackens (1870-1938) entitled
"Children - Washington Square Park." It measures 25 by 30 inches
and was painted circa 1914. A member of the Ash Can School,
Glackens often tended to mimic Renoir too much, but here he takes his
normally very bright palette and applies it to one of his favorite
scenes, Washington Square Park, in a manner reminiscent of Maurice
Prendergast but with an added major dollop of rhythm and pattern.
This is a Glackens masterpiece. It was exhibited at
Berry-Hill Gallery in New York in 2001. It has a modest estimate
of $200,000 to $300,000. It sold for $175,000.
Lot 7, "Tumblers," by Charles Demuth, watercolor and pencil on paper, 13 by 8 inches, 1917
Lot
7 is a very fine watercolor and pencil on paper by Charles Demuth
(1883-1935). It measures 13 by 8 inches and is entitled
"Tumblers." It was executed in 1917 and has been exhibited twice
at the Whitney Museum of American Art. It has a modest estimate
of $200,000 to $300,000. It sold for $542,500.
Lot 132, "The Last Painting," by George Lovett Kindsland Morris, oil on canvas, 50 by 64 inches, 1975Lot
132 is a very large oil on canvas by George L. K. Morris (1905-1975)
entitled "The Last Painting." It measures 50 by 64 inches and was
painted in 1975, the year the artist died. It has a modest
estimate of $35,000 to $45,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 60, "Sailing on Calm Sea," by Childe Hassam oil on canvas, 20 by 24 1/4 inches, 1900
Lot
60 is a very nice seasccape by Childe Hassam entitled "Sailing on Calm
Sea." An oil on canvas, it measures 20 by 24 1/4 inches and was
executed in 1900 It has an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It sold for $662,500.
Lot 63, "The Cathedral and Fifth Avenue in June," by Childe Hassam, oil on canvas, 20 1/4 by 14 inches, 1893
Lot63
is a small oil on canvas by Childe Hassam that shows St. Patrick's
Cathedral and Fifth Avenue "in June." it measures 20 1/4 by 14
inches and was formerly in the collections of William Macbeth Inc. of
New York and Mrs. Francis Garven. It has an estimate of $400,000
to $600,000. It sold for $542,500.
Lot 64, "The Bartlett Garden, Amagansett, Long Island, by Childe Hassam, oil on canvas, 27 1/2 by 61 1/4 inches, 1933
Lot
64 is a very large painting of "The Bartlett Garden, Amagansett, Long
Island," by Childe Hassam. An oil on canvas, it measures 27 1/2
by 61 1/4 inhes and was executed in 1933. It has an estimate of
$150,000 to $250,000. It sold for $170,500.
Lot 59,"Rainy Day, On The Avenue," by Childe Hassam, oil on canvas, 16 by 18 inches, 1893
Lot
59 is an excellent streetscape by Childe Hassam (1859-1935) that was
painted in 1893. Entitled "Rainy Day, On the Avenue," it is an
oil on canvas that measures 16 by 18 inches and the catalogue notes
that it is probably a New York scene but "recalls the grand Parisian
Boulevards.' it has an estimate of $700,000 to $1,000,000. it sold for $890,500.
Lot 56, "A Day in July," by Louis Ritman, oil on canvas, 36 1/4 inches square, 1918
Lot
56 is an impressive oil on canvas by Louis Ritman (1889-1963).
It is 36 1/4 inches square and was painted in 1918. It was
formerly in the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Feil of Chicago
It was sold at Sotheby's in May, 2003 for $365,900 when it had an
estimate of $300,000 to $500,000. It has the same estimate for
this auction. It sold for $338,500.
Lot 53, "A Bright Day in Venice," by Robert Frederick Blum," oil on canvas, 11 by 21 1/2 inches
Lot
53 is a lovely Venetian scene by Robert Frederick Blum (1857-1903).
An oil on canvas, it measures 11 by 21 1/2 inches. It has
an estimate of $180,000 to $240,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 76. "The Stage Singer," by Everett Shinn, oil on canvas, 26 1/2 by 17 1/2 inches, 1902
Everett
Shinn (1876-1953) is another Ash Can School artist who would become
best known for his theatrical flair and Lot 76, "The Stage Singer," is
as fine as any Degas or Lautrec painting of a performer, full of
exuberance, confidence and grace. An oil on canvas, it measures 26 1/2
by 17 1/2 inches and was painted in 1902. It was exhibited at
Berry-Hill Gallery in 2000 and 2001. It has an estimate of
$800,000 to $1,200,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 105, "Portrait of Jean-Paul Sartre," by Ben Shahn, casein and gouache on paper laid down on board, 26 1/ by 20 1/2 inches, 1965
Lot
105 is a large and very fine portrait of Jean-Paul Sarte, the great
French existentialist philosopher, by Ben Shahn (1898-1969). A
casein and gouache on paper laid down on board, it measures 26 1/2 by
20 1/2 inches and was painted in 1965. It has an estimate of
$30,000 to $50,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 72, "Social Register," by Guy Pene du Bois, oil on panel 20 by 15 inches, 1919
Lot
72 is a superb oil on panel by Guy Pene du Bois (1884-1958) entitled
"Social Register." It measures 20 by 15 inches and was painted in
1919. It is a great composition with a great title. It
has a modest estimate of $60,000 to $80,000. It was once in the
collection of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, the founder of the Whitney
Museum of American Art. It sold for $194,500.
A
smaller painting by du Bois, "Lot 80, "After the Music Lesson," showing
a girl talking to her teacher, is equally charming, but darker.
It has a modest estimate of $50,000 to $70,000. It failed
to sell. it was once in the collectin of Arthur G. Altschul of
New ork and was widely exhibited and published. It failed to sell.
Lot 81, "Skating," by Winslow Homer, oil on canvas, 8 1/2 by 16 1/4 inches, circa 1865
Lot
82 is a small oil on canvas by Winslow Homer (1836-1910) entitled
"Skating." It is a sketch and conveys a sense of a cold, overcast
day. It is a great composition, but a little short on color and
detail. It has a modest estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. It sold for $104,500.
Lot 46, "Twilight, Mount Ktaadn," by Frederic Edwin Church, oil on paper laid down on board, 10 1/2 by 13 3/4 inches, circa 1858-60
Lot
46 is a pleasant oil on paper sketch of "Twilight, Mount Ktaadn," by
Frederic Edwin Church (1826-1900). It measures 10 1/3 by 13 3/4
inches and was painted circa 1858-60. It has an estimate of
$700,000 to $1,000,000. It sold for $722,500.
Lot 48, "View on the Hudson," by Francis Augustus Silva, oil on canvas, 12 by 24 inches, 1872
Lot
48 is a lyrical and beautiful riverscape by Francis Augustus Silva
(1835-1886). It is entitled "View on the Hudson" and is an oil on
canvas that measures 12 by 24 inches and was painted in 1872. IUt
has a modest estimate of $150,000 to $250,000. It sold for $662,500.
Lot 39, "A Golden Summer Day Near Oakland," by Albert Bierstadt, oil on paper laid down on masonite, 16 1/2 by 22 inches, circa 1873
Lot
39 is a very fine bucolic scene by Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902) that is
entitled "A Golden SummerDay Near Oakland." An oil on paper laid
down on masonite, it measures 16 12 by 22 inches and was painted circa
1873. It was once with the Alexander Gallery in New York. The
catalogue notes that the painting depicts the artist looking upat his
wife, Rosalie, as her sister, Esther, reads in the shade. The lot
has a modest estimate of $120,000 to $150,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 40, "Seals on the Rocks,"by Albert Bierstadt, oil on canvas, 30 1/4 by 44 inches, circa 1872-3
A
more traditional and spectacular slapdash Bierstadt subject is Lot 40,
"Sealsonthe Rocks," an oil on canvas that measures 30 1/4 by 44 inches
and was executed circa 1872-3. It was a popular subject with the
artist and the wave depicted in this picture is especially dramatic.
The lot has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 45, "Greenwood Lake," by Jasper Francis Cropsey," oil on canvas, 23 3/4 by 43 1/2 inches,1879
Lot
45 is a classic and very colorful Greenwood Lake scene by Jasper
Francis Cropsey. An oil on canvas, it measures 23 3/4 by 43 1/2
inches and is dated 1879. It was sold for $673,500 when it was
auctioned at Phillips, De Pury & Luxembourg May 21, 2002 when it
had an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. At this auction, it has
a modest estimate of $300,000 to $500,000. It sold for $422,500.
Lot 50, "Natural Bridge, Virginia," by David Johnson, oil on paper laid down on board, 4 3/4 3 3/4 inches, oval, 1862
Lot
50 is a spectacular minature oval oil on paper laid down on board by
David Johnson (1837-1908) of the Natural Bridge in Virginia. It
measures 4 3/4 by 3 3/4 inches and was painted in 1862. It was
formerly in the collections of Sameul P. Avery of New York, Mr. and
Mrs. Wilbur L. Ross Jr. of New york and the Manoogian Collection of
Detroit. It has an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000. It sold for $37.500.
Lot 41, "Commanding General, a boy (Wa-Ta-We-Buck-A-No)," by George Catlin, oil on canvas, 28 by 23 inches, circa 1844
Lot
41 is an excellent Indian portrait by George Catlin (1796-1872).
It is entitled "Commanding General, a boy (Wa-Ta-We-Buck-A-No),"
and is an oil on canvas that measures 28 by 23 inches. It was
painted circa 1844. It was once in the collection of Thomas
Biddle of Philadelphia and is property from the Philadelphia History
Museum. It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000. It sold for $842,500.
Lot 44, "General George Washington," by Thomas Sully, oil on canvas, 36 by 27 inches, 1841
Lot
44 is a very dashing equestrian portrait of George Washington by Thomas
Sully (1783-1872). An oil on canvas, it measures 36 by 27
inches and was painted in1841. It has an estimate of $700,000 to
$1,000,000. It sold for $1,082,500.
See The City Review article on the Spring 2012 American Paintings auction at Sotheby's New York
See The City Review article on the Spring 2012 American Paintings auction at Christie's New York
See The City Review article on the Fall 2011 American Paintings auction at Sotheby's New York
See The City Review article on the Fall 2011 American Paintings Auction at Christie's New York
See The City Review article on the Spring 2011 American Paintings auction at Sotheby's New York
See The City Review article on the Spring 2011 American Paintings auction at Christie's New York
See The City Review article on the Fall 2010 American Paintings Auction at Christie's
See The City Review article on the Spring 2010 American Paintings auction at Sotheby's
See The City Review article on the Spring 2010 American Pantings auction at Christie's
See The City Review article on the Fall 2009 American Paintings auction at Sotheby's
See The City Review article on the Fall 2009 American Paintings auction at Christie's