Lot 19,"Illusion of a Prairie, New Jersey (Red Farm at Pochuck)," by Oscar Florianus Bluemner, oil on canvas, 30 by 40 inches, 1915
By
Carter B. Horsley
The November 30,
2011 American Paintings auction at Christie's New York is highlighted
by superb paintings by Oscar Florianus Bluemner, Marsden
Hartley, Jerome Thompson and Louis Lang, and fine works by Georgia
O'Keefe, Frederic Edwin Church, David Johnson, John Singer
Sargent, Jerome Thompson, George Lambdin, William McGregor Paxton and
Louis Ritman
Lot 19,
"Illustion of a Prairie, New Jersey (Red Farm at Pochuck)," is a
masterwork by Oscar Florianus Bluemner. An oil on canvas that
measures 30 by 40 inches, it was painted in 1915. The
painting, which was the cover illustration of the auction catalogue,
has been widely exhibited and extensively published.
It has an estimate of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. It sold for $5,345,500 including the buyer' premium as do all results mentioned in this article. The price was a world auction record for the artist.
The sale sold 87 ot 136 offered lots, or 64 percent, a very low percentage, but Eric Widing, the head of Christie's American Paintings Department, said that "top prices returned to the American marketplace."
It has an estimate of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. It sold for $5,345,500 including the buyer' premium as do all results mentioned in this article. The price was a world auction record for the artist.
The sale sold 87 ot 136 offered lots, or 64 percent, a very low percentage, but Eric Widing, the head of Christie's American Paintings Department, said that "top prices returned to the American marketplace."
Lot 20, "Movement, Sails," by Marsden Hartley, oil on board, 24 by 20 inches, 1916
Lot 20 is a
masterwork by Marsden Hartley (1877-1943) entitled "Movement, Sails."
An oil on board, it measures 24 by 20 inches and was painted
in Provincetown, Massachusetts in 1916. He was invited to
Provincetown by John Reed and spent the summer there with Charles
Demuth and Eugene O'Neill.
It has an estimte of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $1,874,500.
It has an estimte of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $1,874,500.
Lot 15, "My
Autumn," by Georgia O'Keeffe, oil on canvas, 40 by 30 inches, 1929
Lot15 is a very fine flower painting by Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986). Entitled "My Autumn," it is an oil on canvas that measures 40 by 30 inches and was painted in 1929. It has an estimate of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. It sold for $2,770,500.
Lot 46, "Twilight," by Frederic Edwin Church, oil on canvas tacked over board, 13 1/4 by 22 1/2 inches,1863
Lot 46 is a good
"Twilight" scene by Frederic Edwin Church that was painted in 1863.
An oilon canvas tacked over board, it measures 13 1/4 by 22
1/2 inches. It was once owned by William Henry Osborn.
It has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $3,218,500.
Lot 56, "Jungfraus," by Albert Bierstadt, oil on canvas, 18 by 27 1/4 inches
Lot 56 is a very
nice painting of "Jungfrau" by Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902).
An oil on canvas, it measures 18 by 27 1/4 inches.
It has an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. It sold for $242,500.
Lot 119, "Pastoral," by Jerome Thompson, oil on canvas laid down on masonite, 26 by 40 inches, 1872
Lot 119 is a
masterwork by Jerome Thompson (1814-1886) entitled "Pastoral."
An oil on canvas laid down on masonite, it measures 26 by 40
inches and is dated 1872. It was once in the
Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection. It has a modest estimate of
$25,000 to $35,000. It sold for $40,000.
Lot 126, "Reminiscences of Lake Mahopac - Ladies Preparing for a Boat Race," by Louis Lang, oil on canvas, 44 1/2 by 61 1/4 inches,1864-5
Lot 126, "Reminiscences of Lake Mahopac - Ladies Preparing for a Boat Race," by Louis Lang, oil on canvas, 44 1/2 by 61 1/4 inches,1864-5
Another genre
masterwork that was once in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection is Lot
126, "Reminiscenes of Lake Mahopac - Ladies Preparing for a Boat Race,"
by Louis Lang (1814-1893). An oil on canvas, it measures 44
1/2 by 61 1/4 inches and is dated 1864-5. It has a modest
estimate of $30,000 to $50,000. It
sold for $30,000.
Lot 44, "Sunset, Camel's Hump, Lake Champlain," by Jasper Francis Cropsey, oil on canvas, 12 by 20 inches, 1877
Lot 44 is a
lovely luminist scene of "Sunset, Camel's Hump, Lake Champlain" by
Jasper Francis Cropsey (1823-1900). An oil on canvas, it
measures 12 by 20 inches and is dated 1877. It has an
estimate of $150,000 to $250,000. It
sold for $314,500.
Lot 135, "In the White Mountains," by David Johnson, oil on canvas, 8 by 12 inches, 1858
Lot 135 is a
jewel of a landscape by David Johnson (1827-1908) entitled "In the
White Mountains." An oil on canvas, it measures 8
by 12 inches and is dated 1858. It has a modest estimate of
$30,000 to $50,000. It
sold for $40,000.
Lot 63, "The Pizzazetta with Gondolas," by John Singer Sargen, watercolor and pencil on paper, 10 by 14 inches, circa 1902-4
Lot 63 is a good
watercolor sketch of Venice by John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) entitled
"The Pizzazetta with Gondolas." It measures 10 by 14 inches
and was executed circa 1902-4. It has an estimate of S600,000
to $800,000. It
sold for $842,500.
Lot 58, "Study of the Parrot Fish," by John La Farge, oil panel, 8 by 12 inches, 1890
Lot 58 is a fine
oil on panel by John La Farge (1835-1910) entitled "Study of the Parrot
Fish." It measures 8 by 12 inches and was painted in 1890.
It has an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000. It sold for $60,000.
Lot 70, "Women Fishing," by Francis Coates Jones, oil on canvas, 12 1/2 by 22 1/2 inches
Lot 70 is a
lyrical work by Francis Coates Jones (1857-1932) entitled "Women
Fishing." An oil on canvas, it measures 12 1/2 by 22 1/2
inches. It has a modest estimate of $40,000 to $60,000.
It
sold for $40,000.
Lot 75, "The Crystal," by William McGregor Paxton, oil on canvas, 65 by 72 inches 1900
Lot 75 is a
masterwork by William McGregor Paxton (1869-1941). Entitled
"The Crystal," it is a portrait of his wife, Elizabeth Okie and is an
oil on canvas that measures 65 by 75 inches. It was painted
in 1900 and is a great example of the Boston school of painters who
specialized in depicting beautiful women. Paxton's style
shows the influence of Vermeer and Ingres. The painting has
an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It failed to
sell.
Lot 67, "Lady Trying on a Hat," by Frederick Carl Frieseke, oil on canvas, 64 1/4 by 52 inches, 1909
Lot 67 is a very beautiful
and painterly work by Frederick Carl Frieseke (1874-1939)
entitled "Lady Trying on a Hat." Painted in 1909, it is an
oil on canvas that measures 64 1/2 by 52 inches. It is being
sold inexplicably by order of the board of trustees of the Art
Institute of Chicago. It has an estimate of $1,000,000 to
$1,500,000. It
failed to sell.
Lot 66, "In the Garden," by Louis Ritman, oil on canvas, 36 inches square
Lot 66 is a very attractive oil on canvas by Louis Ritman (1889-1963) entitled "In the Garden. It is 36 inches square. It has an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. It sold for $542,500, a world auction record for the artist.
Lot 69, "Interior," by Louis Ritman, oil on canvas, 32 inches square, 1918
Lot 66, "In the Garden," by Louis Ritman, oil on canvas, 36 inches square
Lot 66 is a very attractive oil on canvas by Louis Ritman (1889-1963) entitled "In the Garden. It is 36 inches square. It has an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. It sold for $542,500, a world auction record for the artist.
Lot 69, "Interior," by Louis Ritman, oil on canvas, 32 inches square, 1918
Lot 69 is a fabulous
painting by Louis Ritman
(1889-1963) entitled "Interior," an oil on canvas that was painted in
1918 and is 32 inches square. Ritman was one of a few
prominent American artists who spent time in
Giverny, France, and espoused a jewelly and exotic palette combined
with considerable painterliness. The other well-known artists
were Richard Miller, perhaps the best of the group, and Frederick
Frieseke. This is a wonderful example
of Ritman's lush style and boldly patterned compositions. When it was
offered at Christie's December 1, 2005, it had a modest estimate of
$200,000 to $300,000 and sold for $240,000. The
catalogue for that auction noted that the work is a fine example
of "intimism" and that "The artist's unique celebration
of the vibrant patterns and textures of interior furnishings -
wallpaper, upholstery, carpeting, and also costume - set his work
apart from the Intimist interiors of his American peers."At
this auction,it has the same estimate. It failed to sell.
Lot 51, "Young Woman," by Winslow Homer, watercolor, 9 1/2 by 13 3/4 inches, 1880
Lot 51 is a
pleasant watercolor of a "Young Woman" with an umbrella standing on a
beach by Winslow Homer (1836-1910). It measures 9 1/2 by 13
3/4 inches and is dated 1880. It has an estimate of $250,000
to $350,000. It
sold for $242,500. At Christie's December 4,
2003 it sold for $511,500 when it had an estimate of $500,000
to $700,000.
Lot 65, "Sunset at Veules-les-Roses, Seine-Mar," by Theodore Earl Butler, oil on canvas, 19 1/4 by 28 3/4 inches, 1905
Lot 65 is an impressive
riverscape entitled "Sunset at Veules-les-Roses, Seine-Mar," by
Theodore Earl Butler (1860-1936). An oil on canvas, it
measures 19 1/4 by 28 3/4 inches and was painted in 1905. It
has a modest estimate of $30,000 to $50,000. It sold for $30,000.
Lot 46, "Haystack at Sunset," by Martin J. Heade, oil on canvas, 12 by 20 inches, circa 1861-6
Lot 46 is a very
good "haystack" picture by Martin J. Heade that was painted circa
1861-6. An oil on canvas, it measures 12 by 20 inches.
It has an estimate of $700,000 to $1,000,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 48, "Sunset, Milking Time, Montclair, New Jersey," by George Inness, oil on canvas, 22 by 36 1/2 inches, 1889
Lot 48 is a
classic late work by George Inness entitled "Sunset, Milking Time,
Montclair, New Jersey." An oil on canvas, it measures 22 by
36 1/2 inches and is dated 1889. It has an estimate of
$80,000 to $120,000. It
sold for $74,500.
