Art/Auctions: American Paintings at Christie's May 20. 2010

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American Paintings

Christie's

10 A.M., May 20, 2010

Sale 8598

Lot 24, "Daybreak," by Maxfield Parrish, oil on board, 26 1/2 by 45 inches, 1923

By Carter B. Horsley

This auction of American Paintings at Christie's May 20, 2010 is highlighted by some fine paintings by Maxfield Parrish, two nice floral paintings by Georgia O'Keeffe, and great works by Edward Steichen, Thomas Wilmer Dewing, Andrew Wyeth and John Brown.

Lot 24 is "Daybreak," which is described in the catalogue as the "most celebrated masterwork" by Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966).

"It was estimated that one of every four households had a copy of the work, making it a national sensation an cultural phenomenon," the entry maintained. The painting is an oil on board that measures 26 1/2 by 45 inches and was executed in 1923 as a commission by the art publishing firm, House of Art, his first work to be commissioned solely for the purpose of reproduction as a color lithographic prit to be distributed to the American public and [it] would beome one of the most reproduced paintings in Amerian history." Parrish paintings had been previously contracted for as decorations for Crane's Chocolates Christmas gift boxes.

"One of Parriash's greatest gifts was his ability to identify what captivated the American public. In Daybreak he conflated modern and archaic elements with a sense of the theatrical in a technically masterful style to create a strikingly beautiful composition that is simultaneously exotic fantasy and beautiful composition and accessible to the ocmmon American," the catalogue said.

The work has been widely exhibited and published. It has an estimate of $4,000,000 to $7,000,000. It sold for $5,234,500 including the buyer's premium as do all results mentioned in this article. At the May 25, 2006 auction at Christie's when it had an estimate of $5,000,000 to $7,000,000, it sold for $7,632,000, a world auction record for the artist.

An even larger Parrish painting in this auction is lot 27, "Sing a Song of Sixpence," a 63-by-160-inch oil on canvas that was commissioned in 1910 by the Sherman House Hotel in Chicago. It has an estimate of $2,500,000 to $3,500,000. It sold for $2,210,500.

Parrish is best known in New York for "Old King Cole," a large mural that originally hung in the former Knickerbocker Hotel on the southeast corner of 42nd Street and Broadway and now is in the bar of the St. Regis Hotel on the southeast corner of Fifth Avenue and 55th Street.

Lot 32, "The Music Lesson," by Thomas Wilmer Dewing, oil on canvas, 16 by 14 inches

Lot 59 is an exquisite small oil on canvas by Thomas Wilmer Dewing (1851-1938), the greatest of American romantic Tonalists. The painting measures 16 by 14 inches and had been sold at Christie's in New York May 23, 2001 when it had an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000 and sold for $721,000, setting a new world auction record for the artist. In this auction, it has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It failed to sell. A marvelous study in Dewing's most diaphonous style in yellows, greens and borwns, it has an unusual sense of spatial depth for the artist.

The 2001 auction catalogue provided the following commentary:

"Dewing evokes a sense of melancholy through his skillful and deliberate use of a narrow tonal range. His sitters are presented as if in a dream world. In the present example, she is dignified and elegant rather than beautiful, seated on a low bench at the spinet. Devoid of anecdotal drama, Dewing imbues the scene with an aura of quietude and tension, recalling the works of Jan Vermeer, who was much admired at the time."

Dewing's poetic works, especially his smaller ones, are very beautiful indeed but they do not convey melancholy but peacefulness and the sitter in this work is beautiful and all his subjects are dignified. Indeed, one can easily tire of the countless "white ladies" portrayed endlessly by New England Impressionists around the turn of the century, but never be exhausted by Dewing's heavenly works of which this is a fine example. Many of the "white ladies" come across as social butterflies concerned with their finery and their gardens and their worry-free lives, but Dewing's ladies are vestigial descendants of Classical and mythological goddesses whose longings are aesthetically eternal and inherently graceful. Indeed, grace is their virtue whereas other "white ladies" are simply well-attired and poised/posed.

Lot 13, "Moonlight Landscape," by Edward Steichen, oil on canvas, 21 1/4 by 25 inches, 1907

Lot 13 is a good and rare Tonalist painting, oil on canvas 21 1/4 by 25 inches, by famed photographer Edward Steichen (1879-1973). The painting is dated "MDCCCCVII" and shows several figures beside a large tree with a setting sun in the distance. It was sold for Christie's in New York November 30, 1999 when it had a conservative high estimate of $60,000 for sold for $189,500, perhaps indicating a belated awakening to the genius of this great master whose paintings are exceeding rare. At this auction, it has an estimate of $300,000 to $500,000. It sold for $362,500.

Lot 60, "Off Shore," by Andrew Wyeth, tempera on masonite, 21 1/4 by 51 1/2 inches, 1967

Lot 60 is a very strong work by Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009) entitled "Off Shore." A tempera on masonite, it measures 21 1/4 by 51 1/2 inches and was executed in 1967 on the artist's front lawn in Cushing, Maine, on the Georges River and depicts a neighbor, Raymond Woods, pulling the bow line taut to steady the boat and holding the viewer's attention with a penetrating stare. The three men in the boat are off to dig clams in the dense fog. The painting is property from the estate of Mrs. Charles W. Engelhard. It has an estimate of $1,200,000 to $1,800,000. It sold for $6,354,500.

Lot 46, "Afternoon, Devon," by Childe Hassam, oil on canvas, 11 1/2 by 30 3/4 inches, 1930

Lot 46 is a nice boating scene by Childe Hassam (1859-1935) that is entitled "Afternoon, Devon." An oil on canvas, it measures 11 1/2 by 30 3/4 inches, it was painted in 1930. It is property of the Delaware Art Museum and is being sold for benefit the acquisition fund. It has an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000. It sold for $50,000.

Lot 38, "Baby John Nursing," by Mary Cassatt, pastel on canvas, 32 by 25 3/4 inches, circa 1908

Lot 38 is a very finished and large pastel on canvas by Mary Cassatt (1944-1926) entitled "Baby John Nursing." It measures 32 by 25 3/4 inches and was executed circa 1908. It is property from the Raymond and Miriam Collection. It is a classic Cassatt composition and the women's white and red attire is very lovely and bold. It has an estimate of $1,500,000 to $2,500,000. It failed to sell.

"Squash Blossom" by O'Keeffe

Lot 18, "Squash Blossom," by Georgia O'Keeffe, oil on board, 18 by 13 1/2 inches, 1925

Lot 18 is a strong floral oil on board by Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986) (see The City Review article on O'Keeffe) entitled "Squash Blossom." It measures 18 by 13 1/2 inches and was painted in 1925. It and Lot 19, "Squash Blossom II," were gifts from the artist to Peter Bayle, the father of the present owner, the estate of Andrew C. Bayle. Peter Bayle owned the Costamp Metal Company in New York and created frames for the artist. It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It sold for $662,500.

"Squash Blossom II" by O'Keeffe

Lot 19, "Squash Blossom II," by Georgia O'Keeffe, oil on board, 18 by 14 inches, 1925

Lot 19 is another painting of a squash blossom by O'Keeffe. It is an oil on board that measures 18 by 14 inches and was painted in 19125. It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It sold for $938,500.

Lot 139, "Can I Shovel the Snow?" by John George Brown, oil on canvas, 14 by 10 inches, 1871

John George Brown (1831-1913) is best known as a painter of shoeshine boys and street urchins but he was also capable of some fabulous compositions and memorable and very endearing subjects. Lot 139, "Can I Shovel The Snow?" is just such a charming example, an oil on canvas that measures 14 by 10 inches and was painted in 1871. It has a modest estimate of $20,000 to $30,000. It sold for $40,000.

Lot 138, "The Eavesdropper," by Eastman Johnson, oil on board, 12 by 15 inches, circa 1861-1966.

Lot 138 is a nice genre painting by Eastman Johnson (1824-1906) entitled "The Eavesdropper." An oil on board, it measures 12 by 15 inches and was painted circa 1861-1866. The painting was once owned by Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd of New York and has been widely exhibited and published. It has an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. It failed to sell.

See The City Review article on the Spring 2010 American Paintings auction at Sotheby'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

See The City Review article on the Fall 2009 intermediate American Paintings auction at Sotheby's

See The City Review article on the Fall 2009 intermediate American Paintings auction at Christie's

See The City Review article on the Spring 2009 American Paintings auction at Sotheby's

See The City Review article on the Spring 2009 American Paintings auction at Christie's

See The City Review article on the Fall 2008 American Paintings auction at Christie's

See The City Review article on the Fall 2008 American Paintings auction at Sotheby's

See The City Review article on the Spring 2008 American Paintings auction at Christie's

See The City Review article on the Fall 2007 American Paintings auction at Christie's

See The City Review article on the Fall 2007 American Paintings auction at Sotheby's

See The City Review article on the Spring 2007 American Paintings auction at Sotheby's

See The City Review article on the Spring 2007 American Paintings auction at Christie's