By Carter B. Horsley

This May 17, 2012 auction of American Paintings at Sotheby's New York is one of the smallest in recent years with only 60 lots, but it does have two blockbuster works.

One is the cover illustration of the catalogue, Lot 10, Bridle Path," an oil on canvas by Edward Hopper (1882-1967).  It measures 23 3/8 by 42 1/8 inches and was painted in 1939.  It is property of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and is being sold to benefit the acquisition program.  The painting, which is a great composition, has been widely exhibited and published and has been requested for the upcoming exhibition on the artist at the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisz in Madrid later this year and for a retrospective at the Grand Palais in Paris in the fall.  It has an estimate of $5,000,000 to $7,000,000.  It sold for $10,386,500 including the buyer's premium as do all results mentioned in this article.

Lot 20, "Tennis at Newport," by George Bellows, oil on canvas, 43 by 53 inches, 1920

The other major work is Lot 20, "Tennis at Newport," by George Bellows (1882-1925), oil on canvas that measures 43 by 53 inches and was painted in 1920.  It has also been widely published and exhibited and has been requested for the upcoming exhibition on the artist at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, the Metropolitan Museum of art in New York and the Royal Academy of Arts in London.  It has an estimate of $5,000,000 to$7,000,000.  It sold for $7,026,500.  The painting is one of four tennis scenes painted by Bellows, one of which is in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington.

Lot 15, "In The Sun," by Childe Hassam, oil on board mounted on cradled panel, 18 by 14 1/4 inches, 1888

Lot 15 is a lovely small oil on board mounted on cradled panel by Childe Hassam (1859-1935) entitled "In the Sun."  It measures 18 by 14 1/4 inches and was executed in 1888.  It has an estimate of $1,500,000 to $2,000,000.  It sold for $1,986,500.

Lot 4, "Bar Room Brawl (Old Bowery, New York)," by Everett Shinn, charcoal, gouache, wash and pen and ink on paper laid down on card, 8 by 12 inches, 1900

Lot 4 is an excellent small work by Everett Shinn (1876-1953) entitled "Bar Room Brawl (Old Bowery, New York)."  A charcoal, gouache, wash and pen and ink on paper laid down on card, it measures 8 by 12 inches and was painted in 1900.  It has an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000.  It sold for $53,125.

Lot 35, "Abstraction," by Arthur Dove, oil on board, 10 3/4 by 8 1/2 inches, circa 1914-7

Lot 35 is a fine, small abstraction by Arthur Dove (1880-1946).  An oil on board, it measures 10 3/4 by 8 1/2 inches and was painted circa 1914-7.  It has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000.  It sold for $182,500.

Lot 33, "In Fairmont," by Niles Spencer, oil on canvas, 65 1/2 by 41 1/2 inches

Lot 33 is a large abstract oil on canvas by Niles Spencer (1893-1952) entitled "In Fairmont."  It measures 65 1/2 by 41 1/2 inches and is prioperty from the Musem of Modern of Art in New York.  It has an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000.  It sold for $332,500.

Lot 5, "Freedom of the Press," by Ben Shahn, tempera on board, 5 1/2 by 15 1/2 inches, 1939

Lot 5 is a fine tempera on board by Ben Shahn (1898-1969) that is entitled "Freedom of the Press."  It measures 5 1/2 by 15 1/2 inches and was executed in 1939. It has an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000  It sold for $68,500.

Lot 22, "Study for "Barber Shop Chord'," by Stuart Davis, red conté crayon on paper, 14 by 19 inches, 1931

Lot 22 is a very fine red conté crayon on paper study for "Barber Shop Chord," by Stuart Davis (1892-1964).  It measures 14 by 19 inches and was executed in 1931.  It has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000.  It sold for $62,500.

Lot 7, "Study for 'American Waterfront, Analogical Emblem," by Stuart Davis, oil on board, 10 by 14 inches, 1934

Lot 7 is a strong composition by Davis entitled "Study for 'American Waterfront, Analogical Emblem.'"  An oil on board, it measures 10 by 14 inches and was painted in 1934.  It has an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000.  It sold for $170,500.

Lot 13, "View from New Windsor, Hudson River," by David Johnson oil on canvas, 38 by 60 1/2 inches, 1869

Lot 13 is a large Hudson River landscape by David Johnson (1827-1908).  An oil on canvas, it measures 38 by 60 1/2 inches and is dated 1869.  It has an estimate of $300,000 to $500,000.  It sold for $722,500.

Lot 14, "A pair of nesting Crimson Topaz Hummingbirds," by Martin J. Heade, oil on canvas, 14 3/4 by 10 inches, circa 1875-1885

Lot 14 is a good picture of a pair of Crimson Topaz Hummingbirds by Martin J. Heade (1819-1904).  An oil on canvas, it measures 14 3/4 by 10 inches and was painted circa 1875-1885.  It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000.  It sold for $1,022,500.

Lot 50, "Winter," by Guy Rose, oil on panel, 12 3/4 by 9 inches

Lot 50 is a very poetic and lovely oil on panel entitled "Winter" by Guy Rose (1867-1925).  It measures 12 3/4 by 9 inches and has an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000.  It failed to sell.

Lot 53, "Entrance to the Grand Canal, Venice," by Thomas Moran,oil on canvas, 20 by 30 inches, 1915

Lot 53, "Entrance to the Grand Canal, Venice," is a 20-by-30-inch oil on canvas by Thomas Moran (1837-1926).  It was painted in 1915 and was once in the collection of August Hecksher of Huntington, New York.  It has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000.  It sold for $146,500.

Lot 51, "Venice," by Thomas Moran, oil on canvas, 9 by 17 inches 1900

Lot 51 is a good Venetian scene by Thomas Moran (1837-1926).  An oil on canvas, it measures 9 by 17 inches and is dated 1900.  It has an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000.  It sold for $158,500.

Lot 17, "Rice Threshing," by Thomas Hart Benton, oil on board, 9 3/4 by 13 inches

The back cover illustration of the catalogue is Lot 17, "Rice Threshing," by Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975).  An oil on board, it measures 9 3/4 by 13 inches.  It has an estimate of of $250,000 to $350,000.  It sold for $602,500.

Lot 12, "Winter-time on the Farm," by George Henry Durrie, oil on board, 8 1/4 by 13 inches. circa 1862-3

Lot 12 is a small oil on board by George Henry Durrie (1820-1863) entitled "Winter-time on the Farm."  It measures 8 1/4 by 13 inches and was painted circa 1862-3.  It has an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000.  It sold for $62,500.

Lot 9. "Horse," by Elie Nadelman, bronze, 13 inches high, conceived about 1914 and cast during artist's lifetime

Lot 9 is a fine bronze sculpture of a horse by Elie Nadelman (1882-1946).  It is 13 inches high and was conceived around 1914 and cast during the artist's lifetime.  It was once in the collection of Helena Rubenstein.  It has an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000.  It sold for $842,500.

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