Lot
19, "Kelly Jenness House," by Edward Hopper, watercolor on paper, 20 by
28 inches, 1932
Lot 19 is
another fine Hopper that is entitled "Kelly Jenness House."
It is a watercolor on paper rather than an oil on canvas and
it measures 20 by 28 inches. It was painted in Cape Cod in 1932 and has
been widely exhibited and published. It has an estimate of
$2,000,000 to $3,000,000. It
sold for $4,155,750.
Hudson River
School landscapes have become quite scarce at the major auctions
recently and there are only a handful in this one.
Lot
46, "Tappan Zee," by Sanford Robinson Gifford, oil on canvas, 17 1/4 by
36 1/4, 1879-80
Lot 46 is a
masterpiece by Sanford Robinson Gifford (1823-1880). Entitled
"Tappan Zee," it depicts a serence and very beautiful Hudson River
scene. An oil on canvas, it measures 17 1/4 by 36 1/4inches
and was painted 1879-1880.
Detail
of Lot 46
It has a very
modest estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. It sold for $1,179,750.
Lot
51, "Beach Scene at Eagle Rock, Manchester-by-the-Sea," by John F.
Kensett, oil on board, 10 1/4 by 17 3/4 inches, 1863
Lot 51 is a
small but very nice "Beach Scene at Eagle Rock, Manchester-by-the-Sea"
by John F. Kensett (1816-1872), At the lower right, one man
is walking with a dog and another is standing in a boat with some
equipment. The artist painted numerous larger versions of
Eagle Rock. The lot has an estimate of $300,000 to $500,000.
It sold for
$351,750.,
Lot
49, "Autumn Landscape," by Jasper Francis Cropsey, oil on canvas, 3 by
2 1/2 inches, circa 1870
Lot 49 is a
charming very small oval oil on canvas by Jasper Francis Cropsey
(1823-1900). Entitled "Autumn Landscape," it
measures 3 by 2 1/2 inches and was painted circa 1870. It has
an estimate of $10,000 to $15,000. It failed to sell.
Lot
53, "Unto You That Fear My Name Shall the Sun of Righteousness Arise
with Healing in His Wings," by Thomas Moran, watercolor and pencil on
paper laid down on paper, 6 by 8 inches, 1882
Lot 53 is a
dazzling watercolor and pencil on paper laid down on paper by Thomas
Moran (1847-1926), who was known as the American Turner as this work
amply demonstrates. Only 6 by 8 inches, it seems enormous and momentous
and dazzling. It was executed in 1882 and the catalogue entry
notes that this work and another by the artist were published as Easter
Cards by Prang & Co. The entry added that the title
of this work is "a portion of a verse, Malachi 4:2 in the Old
Testament. It has an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000. It sold for $50,000.
Lot
43, "A Bridge in Venice," by John Singer Sargent, watercolor and pencil
on paper 9 1/4 by 13 3/4 inches
Lot 43 is a
sensational and very strong watercolor and pencil on paper of "A Bridge
in Venice" by John Singer Sargent (1856-1925). It measures 9
1/4 by 13 3/4 inches and is proeprty of the late 7th Earl of Harewood,
sold by order of the executors. It has a modest estimate of
$250,000 to $350,000. It
failed to sell.
Lot
38, "From the Upper Terrace," by John Henry Twachtman, oil on canvas
tacked over board, 25 by 30 inches, circa 1893
Lot 38 is a very
good farm scene by John Henry Twachtman (1853-1902), America's most
poetic Impressionist. It depicts his farm in Greenwich,
Conn., and has more color and a more complex composition than many of
his works. It is an oil on canvas tacked over board that
measures 25 by 30 inches and was painted circa 1893. It was
once in the collections of Martin Ryerson, the Art Institute of Chicago
and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Pfeil of Chicago.
Detail
of Lot 38
It has an
estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. It sold for $447,750.
Lot
126, "Early Snow," by John Leslie Breck, oil on canvas, 18 1/4 by 22
inches, 1894
Lot 126 is a
very good and very lovely oil on canvas by John Leslie Breck
(1860-1899) entitled "Early Snow." It measures 18 1/4 by 22
inches and was painted in 1894. The sceneis the Breck family
house in West Rutland, Massachusetts, and the catalogue entry states
that "This is one of the earliest and purest Impressionist achievements
by any American painter." It hasan estimate of $200,000 to
$300,000. It
sold for $195,750.
Lot
33, "Blue Bonnets at Twilight," by Julian Onderdonk, oil on canvas, 22
by 40 inches, 1918
Lot 33 is a
lyrical and very poetic oil on canvas by Julian Onderdonk (1882-1922)
entitled "Blue Bonnets at Twilight." It measures 22 by 40
inches and was painted in 1918. It has an estimate of
$150,000 to $250,000. It
sold for $435,750.
Lot
118, "Passing Summer," by Charles Harold Davis, oil on canvas, 29 by 36
inches, 1912
Lot 118 is a
very fine landscape by Charles Harold Davis (1856-1933) entitled
"Passing Summer." An oil on canvas, it measures 29 by 36
inches and was painted in 1912. It was once in the collection
of the Duanesburg (N.Y.) Historical Society and then Thomas Colville
Fine Art LLC of Guilford, Conn. It was illustrated in the
exhibition on the artist in 1922 at the Macbeth Gallery in New York.
It has a very modest estimate of $25,000 to $35,000. It failed to sell.
Lot
129, "May Pastorial," by William Leroy Metcalf, oil on canvas, 36 by 39
inches, 1907
Lot 129 is a
very lovely oil on canvas by William Leroy Metcalf (1858-1925).
Entitled "May Pastoral," it is an oil on canvas that measures
36 by 39 inches and was painted in 1907. It was once the
property of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. It has been
widely exhibited and published. It is a scene in Old Lyme, Connecticut.
It has an estimate of $300,000 to $500,000. It sold for $483,750.
Lot
39, "In the Boudoir," by Frederick Carl Frieseke, oil on
canvas, 25 1/2 by 31 3/4 inches, circa 1914
One of the most
painterly works in the auction is Lot 39, "In the Boudoir," an oil on
canvas by Frederick Carl Frieseke (1874-1939). It measures 25
1/2 by 31 3/4 inches and was painted circa 1914.
Detail
of Lot 39
This very lush
and beautiful painting is a smaller version of a very similar work in
the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. It
has an estimate of $150,000 to $200,000. It sold for $171,750.
Lot
121, "October Gold," by Childe Hassam, oil on canvas, 37 by 24 inches,
1901
Lot 121 is an
impressive oil on canvas by Childe Hassam (1859-1935)(see The City Review article on a 2004 Hassam
exhibition) entitled "October Gold." It measures 37
by 24 inches and was painted in 1901. It has a
modest estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. It sold for $267,750.
Lot
36, "In a French Garden," by Childe Hassam, oil on canvas, 25 1/4 by 21
1/4 inches, 1897
Lot 36 is a very
fine oil on canvas by Childe Hassam (1859-1935) entitled "In a French
Garden." It measures 25 1/4 by 21 1/4 inches and was painted
in 1897. It once belonged to Richard Manoogian of Grosse
Point, Michigan and has been widely exhibited and published.
Detail
of Lot 36
It has an
estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000. It
sold for $963,750.
Lot
125, "The Seamtress," by Frank Weston Benson, oil on canvas, 36 by 26
inches, 1913
Lot 125 is a
wonderful masterpiece by Frank Weston Benson (1862-1951) entitled "The
Seamtress." An oil on canvas, it measures 36 by 26 inches and
was painted in 1913. The catalogue entry notes that "It is a
beautiful and intimate depiction of the artist's beloved daughter
Eleanor that manifests Benson's bold brushwork ad mastery of light and
atmosphere." The entry quotes Faith Andrews Bedford as
commenting that "So important was the composition of his interiors with
figures that, at times, the model seems as much a beautiful objet d'art
as the furnishing and the accessories." It has an estimate of
$800,000 to $1,200,000. It
sold for $963,750.
Lot
44, "The Palm Leaf Fan," by Thomas Dewing, oil on panel, 24 by 17 1/2
inches, circa 1906
Thomas Dewing
(1851-1938) is the most poetic and ethereal of Boston's many painters
of elegant women and Lot 44, "The Palm Leaf Fan," is a good example of
his work. An oil on panel, it measures 24 by 17 1/2 inches
and was painted circa 1906. It has been widely exhibited and
published. It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000.
It failed to
sell.
Lot
58, "Beach Scene No. 1," by Maurice Brazil Prendergast, oil on panel,
17 by 32 inches, circa 1915-1918
Lot 58 is an
excellent oil on panel by Maurice Brazil Prendergast (1859-1924)
entitled "Beach Scene No. 1." It measures 17 by 32 inches and
was painted circa 1915-1918. It has been widely publishd and
exhibited. The catalogue entry notes that Prendergast sought
to emphasize the flatness of the surface "which in turn heightened the
overall decorative effect," adding that he "uses a method of banding
and trellising whereby the artist stacks compositional elements in
horizontal bands, which are interlocked by strong vertical
forms." The lot has an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It failed to sell.
Lot
57, "Diving Raft," by Maurice Brazil Prendergast, watercolor and oil on
paper, 15 by 22 inches, 1918
Prendergast's
work in watercolors is generally much brighter than his pure oils but
it is hard to decide which is better. Lot 57, for example,
"Diving Raft," is a great watercolor and oil by Prendergast entitled
"Diving Raft." It measures 15 by 22 inches ad was painted in
1918. It once belonged to his brother, Charles. It
has an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000. It sold for $195,750.
Lot
10, "In Vaudeville: Two Dancers," by Charles Demuth, watercolor and
pencil on paper, 13 by 8 inches, 1920
Lot 10 is a
great watercolor and pencil on paper by Charles Demuth (1883-1935)
entitled "In Vaudeville: Two Dancers." It measures 13 by 8
inches and was painted in 1920. It was exhibited at the
Whitney Museum of American Art in a memorial exhibition for the artist
in 1938. It has an estimate of $200,000 to
$300,000. It
sold for $315,750.
Lot
65, "Peace Conference," by Guy Pene du Bois, oil on canvas, 20 by 25
inches, 1938
Lot 65 is a good
oil on canvas by Guy Pene du Bois (1884-1958). Entitled
"Peace Conference," it measures 20 by 25 inches and was painted in
1938. It once belonged to Senator William H. Benton.
It has been widely exhibited and published. It has
an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. It sold for $363,750.
Lot
22, "My Back Yard," by Georgia O'Keeffe, oil on canvas, 18 by 24
inches, 1943
Lot 22, "My Back
Yard," is an oil on canvas by Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986).
It measures 18 by 24 inches and was painted in 1943. It is
similar but not as vibrant as "Red and Yellow Cliffs" of 1940
in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It has
an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $1,803,750.
Lot
103, "Untitled," by Paul Kelpe, watercolor and collage on paper, 6 1/4
by 5 inches, circa 1928
Perhaps the
auction's strongest work is a small watercolor and collage on
paper by Paul Kelpe (1902-1985). Untitled, it measures only 6
1/4 by 5 inches but it looks like it is a gigantic and great Kandinsky.
It was painted circa 1928. It has a very modest
estimate of $10,000 to $15,000. It sold for $30,000.
Lot
11, "The Tug Boat," by Stuart Davis, oil on panel, 12 by 16 inches,
1922, 1951 and 1953
Lot 11, "The Tug
Boat," is a great through small oil on panel by Stuart Davis
(1892-1964). It measures 12 by 16 inches and was painted in
1922, 1951 and 1953. The catalogue entry notes that it was
not uncommon for Davis to rework his earlier works to reflect the
bolder, more abstract style he was then pursuing. The lot has
a modest estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. It sold for $279,750.
Lot
89, "Broken Window," by Stephen Scott Young, drybrush and pencil on
board, 18 by 29 1/2 inches, 2003
The most
recently created work in the auction is Lot 89, a magnificent drybrush
and pencil on board by Stephen Scott Young (b. 1957) entitled "Broken
Window." It measures 18 by 29 1/2 inches and was painted in
2003 and looks like a masterpiece by Andrew Wyeth. It was
illustrated in a book on the artist published last year by William H.
Gerdts. The catalogue notes that it was painted at Glass
Windows, a natural rock formation in the Bahamas that had been the
subject of a watercolor, circa 1885, by Winslow Homer that is in the
Brooklyn Museum. The rock bridge was nearly
demolished by a hurricane several years ago, the catalogue continued,
and has been replaced by a concrete bridge. The lot has an
estimate of $70,000 to $100,000. It
sold for $105,750.
