Art/Auctions: American Art at Christie's New York November 22, 2016

By Carter B. Horsley

This November 22, 2016 auction of American Paintings at Christie's New York includes very fine Impressionist works by Richard Edward Miller, Charles Hassam, Frederick Carl Frieseke, Frank Benson, John Leslie Breck and William Merrit Chase, and some good Hudson River paintings by Frederick Church and Albert Bierstadt but is weak on Western paintings.

The most beautiful and spectacular painting is Lot 26, "Tea Time," a masterpiece by Richard Edward Miller (1875-1943) that is radiant in its lush palette and rich textures. An oil on canvas, it measures 39 1/8 by 32 inches and was painted in 1914. It was included in a major exhibition on Amerian Impressionism at Berry Hill Galleries in 1999.

Detail of Lot 26

It has a modest estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It sold for $1,087,500, an auction record for the artist.

The auction total was $36,768,000 with 75 percent of the offered lots selling.

Lot 17, 'Summer Idyll," by Ricard Edward Miller, oil on canvas, 28 1/4 by 23 3/ inches, 1914

Another Miller, not so vibrant as Lot 26, is Lot 17. Entitled "Summer Idyll," is possesses a most tranquil pose and atmosphere with a less hyper-charged palette through still very lovely as all almost all Millers. An oil on canvas, it measures 28 1/4 y 23 3/4 inches. It was painted in 1914 and was acuired by Hirsch & Adler in 1999. It has an estiimate of $100,000 to $150,000. It sold for $199,500.

Lot 15, 'The Garden," by Frederick Carl Frieseke, oil on canvas, 25 1/2 by 32 inches, 1913

Lot 15, "The Garden," is a lush detail pianting of a with a parasol in her garde with a circular pool by Frederick Carl Frieseke (1874-1939). Entitled 'The Garden," ie has a posed air about it that believes its former formal composition which is, nonethesss quite effective. An oil on canvas, it measures $1,500,000 to $2,000,000. It sold for $2,207,500. It was acquired from Berry Hill in 2000. It has an estimate of $1,500,000 to $2,500,000. It sold for $2,407,500.

Lot 18, "The Reader," by Frank Weston Benson, oil on canvas, 25 3/8 by 30 1/4 inches, 1906

Lot 18 is a nice casual oil on canvas of a girl sitting on grass with an umbrella reading by Frank Weston Benson 1862-1951), one of Boston's "white dress" painters. An oil on canvas, it measures 25 5/8 by 30 1/3 inches and was painted in 1906. It has been widely exhibited. It has an estimate of $2,500,000 to $3,500,000. It sold for $2,887,500.

Lot 20, "Garden, Ironbound Island, Maine," by John Leslie Breck, oil on canvas, 28 1/2 by 48 1/2 inches, circa 1896

Lot 20 is a dazzling floral landscape by John Leslie Breck (1860-1899) entitled "Garden, Ironbound Island, Maine." An oil on canvas, it measures 28 1/2 by 48 1/2 inches and was painted circa 1896. It was once owned by Daniel J. Terra of Chicago.

Formerly known as "Flower Garden at Annisquam," it has a very unusual and dramatic composition. Breck's style is much more constrained with Hassam's and not especially distinctive, but his composition here is very strong as is his rhythmic punctuation of different colored flowers. At the December 1, 2000 auction at Christie's New York, it had an estimate of $300,000 to $400,000 and sold for $270,000. "Breck," the catalogue then noted, "emerged from Giverny as one of the most influential members of the Boston Impressionist circle. He painted Flower Garden at Annisquam after his return to New England from Europe in 1892. Breck left Giverny for good after the summer of 1891, during which he had become romantically involved with one of Monet's stepdaughters, Blanche Hoschedé. Monet disapproved the union and successfully discouraged it, perhaps promoting Breck's departure for England that all."

At this auction, it has an estimate of $700,000 to $1,000,000. It sold for $1,447,500.

Lot 30, "In the Doorway," by Childe Hassam, oil on board, 18 by 14 3/4 inches, 1888

Lot 30, "In the doorway," is a lovely and very fine Impressionist composition by Childe Hassam that is an oil board that measures 18 by 14 3/4 inches and was painted in 1888. It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 25, "Sunset: Ironbound, Mt. Desert, Maine," by Childe Hassam, oil on canvas, 26 by 30 inches, 1896

Lot 25 is a superb landscape by Hassam entitled "Sunset: Ironbound, Mt. Desert, Maine." An oil on canvas, it measures 26 by 30 inches and was painted in 1896. It was exhibited at The White House in Washington from 1977 to 1989 and has been widely published. It has an estimate of $1,500,000 to $2,500,000. It sold for $1,927,500.

Lot 30, "In the Doorway," by Childe Hassam, oil on board, 18 by 14 3/4 inches, 1888

Lot 94, "The New Moon," by Childe Hassam, oil on panel, 5 by 6 1/4 inches, 1907

Childe Hassam (1859-1935) is the most versatile American Impressionist with many different styles. Lot 94 is an exquisite example of his extreme Impressionism, an oil on panel entilted "The New Moon." It measures 5 by 6 1/4 inches and was painted in 1907. It has a modest estimate of $150,000 to $250,000. It sold for $150,000.

Lot 91, "Outside the Cafe on the Grand Boulevard," by Childe Hassam, gouache and pencil on paper laid down on paperboard, 15 1/2 by 11 1/8 inches, 1898

Lot 91 is a delightly gouache and pencil sketch of a cafe on the grand boulevard by Hassam. Done in 1898, it measures 15 1/2 by 11 1/8 inches, it was formerly in the collection of Lillian Bostwick Phipps and the Terra Foundation for American Art. It has an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 92, "The Pet Canary," by William Merritt Chase, oil on canvas, 19 1/2 by 12 inches, circa 1886

Lot 92 is a great work by William Merritt Chase (1949-1916) entitled "The Pet Canary." An oil on canvas, measures 19 1/2 by 12 inches and was painted circa 1886. When it was offered at Christie's New York November 28, 2007, it has a modest estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 and failed to sell. At this auction, it has an estimate of $300,000 to $500,000. It sold for $247,500.

Lot 89, "The Piazza: on the Verandah," by John Singer Sargent, watercolor and charcoal on paper, 15 1/2 by 21 inches, 1922

Lot 89 is a good watercolor and charcoal on paper by John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) entitled "The Piazza: on the Verandah." It measures 15 1/2 by 21 inches and was painted in 1922. It has been widely published. It has an estimate of $700,000 to $1,000,000. It sold for $667,500.

Lot 13, "A Study with Sunlight," by James Carroll Beckwith," pastel on paper, 8 1/2 by 5 1/8 inches, 1890

Lot 13 is a very nice pastel on paper by James Carroll Beckwith (1852-1917) entitled "A Study with Sunlight." It has an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. It sold for $125,000.

Lot 82, "Dark Bridger Lavelle," by Robert Henri, oil on canvas, 28 1/8 by 20 inches, 1928

Lot 82 is a superb and very lush portrait of a young girl by Robert Henri (1865-1929) entitled "Dark Bridger Lavelle." An oil on canvas, it measures 28 1/8 by 20 inches and was painted in 1928. The catalogue notes that "in his later years, Robert Henri, the leader of the Ashcan School, dedicated his practive almost wholly to the portraiture of children, spending every summer from 1924 to 1928 paiting in Ireland. It has an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 85, "Beatrice Whittaker," by Robert Henri, oil on canvas, 32 by 26, 1919

Lot 85 is an earlier and less painterly but still very lovely portait of "Beatrice Whittaker" by Henri. An oil on canvas, it measures 32 by 26 inches and was painted in 1919. It has an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 49, "Commerce of Nations Rendering Homage to Liberty," by Edward Moran, oil on canvas, 95 by 70 1/2 inches, 1876

Lot 49 is a large, dramatic and very fine oil on canvas by Edward Moran (1829-1901) entitled "Commerce of Nations Rendering Homage to Liberty." It measures 95 by 70 1/2 inches and was painted in 1876. It was once in the collection of Joseph W. Drexel of New York and has been widely published. It is closely related to the artist's 1886 painting at the Museum of The City of New York that is entitled "Unveiling of the Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World." This lot has an estimate of $700,000 to $1,000,000. It sold for $1,327,500.

Lot 39, "Rough Surf, Mt. Desert Island, Maine," by Frederic Church, oil on board laid down on board, 12 by 16 inches, 1850

Lot 39 is a wonderful small study of "Rough Surf, Mt. Desert Island, Maine," by Frederic Church (1826-1900). It is an oil on board laid down on board and measures 12 by 16 inches. It was painted in 1850. It has been widely exhibited. It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000. It sold for $1,267,500.

Lot 38, "In Platte River Country," by Albert Bierstadt. oil on board, 12 by 18 inches, 1864

Lot 38 is a very good small oil on board by Albert Bierstadt (1830--1902) entitled "In Platte River Country." It was auctioned at Christie's New York November 29, 2007 for $2,505,000. At this action, it has an estimate of $1,500,000 to $2,500,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 63, "Castle Butte, Green River, Wyoming," by Thomas Moran, watercolor, ink and pencil on paper, 19 3/4 by 15 5/8 inches, 1900

Lot 63 is a fine, large and dramatic watercolor by Thomas Moran (1837-1926) that is entitled "Castle Butte, Green River, Wyoming." It measures 19 3/4 by 15 5/8 inches and was painted in 1900. It was once owned and widely exhibited by the Transco-Energy Company. It has an estimate of $500,000 to $700,000. It sold for $547,500.

Lot 47, "After a Summer Shower," by Asher B. Durand, oil on canvas, 25 by 36 inches

Lot 47 is a large, fine and classic landscape by Asher B. Durand (1796-1886). Entitled "After a Summer Shower," it measures 25 by 36 inches. It was sold at Christie's New York December 1, 2005 for $114,000. This auction it has an estimate of $70,000 to $100,000. It sold for $137,500.

Lot 34, "Sunset on Greenwood Lake," by Jasper Francis Cropsey, oil on canvas, 14 1/2 by 24 1/2 inches, 1877

Lot 34 is a nice landscape by Jasper Francis Cropsey that is entitled "Sunset on Greenwood Lake." An oil on canvas, it measures 14 1/2 by 24 1/2 inches. It was painted in 1877. It was once owned by John Jacob Astor III. It has an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000. It sold for $271,500.

Lot 35, "Autumn Foliage in the White Mountains (Mount Chocorua)," by Jasper Francis Cropsey, oil on board, 12 1/4 by 19 1/2 inches, 1862

Lot 35 is an earlier landscape by Cropsey that is entitled "Autumn Foliage in the White Mountains (Mount Chocorua)." An oil on board, it measures 12 1/4 by 19 1/2 inches and was painted in 1862. The catalogue notes that "a very similar work, "Autumn Foliage," is in the collection of the North Carolina Museum of Art. A much simpler composition that was essentially just a study of trees, it was previously owned by me. This lot has an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000. It sold for $112,500.

Lot 46, "Southwest Entrance to Camden Harbor," by Fitz Hugh Lane, oil on canvas,18 1/2 by 30 inches, circa 1850s

Lot 46 is an excellent Maine scene by Fitz Hugh Lane (1804-1865), the luminist. Entitled "Southwest Entrance to Camden Harbor," it is an oil on canvas that measures 18 1/2 by 30 inches and was painted circa 1850s. It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 68, "On the Androscoggin," by Sanford Robinson Gifford, oil on canvas, 12 3/4 by 22 3/4 inches, 1863

Lot 68 is a classic landscape oil on canvas by Sanford Robinson Gifford (1823-1880) entitled "On the Androscoggin." It measures 12 3/4 by 22 3/4 inches and was painted in 1863. It has an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. It sold for $341,000.

Lot 9, "Anemones," by Milton Avery, oil and pencil on canvas, 36 by 28 1/8 inches, 1945

Lot 9 is a very dramatic and lovely abstract floral still life by Milton Avery (1885-1965) entitled "Anemones." An oil and pencil on canvas, it measures 36 by 28 1/8 inches and was painted in 1945. It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It sold for $487,500.

Lot 80, "Butterfly Festival," by Charles Burchfield, watercolor, gouache and pencil on paper laid down on board, 37 by 25 1/4 inches, 1956

Lot 80, "Butterfly Festival," a wonderful subject for a painting, is a watercolor, gouache and pencil on paper laid down board by Charles Burchfield (1893-1967). It employs a lot of circular motifs in contrast with the artist's more angular motifs. It measures 37 by 25 1/4 inches and was painted in 1956. It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It sold for $697,500.

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