Innholdsfortegnelse for March-April 2024/No. 74 i American Fine Art Magazine

We see increasing interest in our niche. The core of Helicline Fine Art’s offerings are American works from the WPA era, 1930s and 40s cityscapes, urban images, workers, images of everyday life and abstracts. The recent Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibition Art for the Millions: American Culture and Politics in the 1930s has generated interest from other curators who are mounting exhibitions, providing even more interest in the period we love. Many of our clients are older, so it’s vital we connect with younger generations for mid-20th-century art. Instagram and digital marketing helps us reach those collectors, and it’s working. Helicline has over 21,000 Instagram followers. We’ve made sales, fielded numerous inquiries and established relationships through the app. Because of my communications background, I know how to leverage the process…

What event (gallery show, museum exhibit, etc.) in the next few months are you looking forward to, and why? I’m looking forward to the opening of Jaune Quick-to-See Smith: Memory Map at SAM. We are so proud to be the only West Coast venue for this landmark exhibition of one of the most innovative and powerful artists of our age. Smith, a citizen of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Nation, has broken barriers and forged new paths not only for Native American artists, but for American art more generally, and she blends modern art strategies with Indigenous cultural practices…Plus, she spent her childhood in the Pacific Northwest, giving our presentation of the exhibition a specifically local dimension. What are you reading? Right now, I’m doing a lot of reading about…

Recently augmented by 44 outstanding pieces from the collection of John M. Rivers, the Kim and Jim Pallotta Main Gallery at the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, South Carolina, is a fascinating time capsule of Southern history and culture in the American Colonial era and in the years of the early republic through the Civil War. Comprised of 18th- and 19th-century American paintings and sculpture, as well as decorative and utilitarian arts, this permanent exhibition showcases a variety of strands of artistic and craftsman practice in the region. In the process, the array reveals aspects of Southern culture that have largely been hidden from view. The contributions of women and African Americans—enslaved and free—for example, offer strong counterpoint to the works of better-known artists such as Louis Mignot, Eastman…

For the 62nd edition of the Philadelphia Show—one of the nation’s leading art and design fairs rooted in American art—collectors and connoisseurs alike will find over 40 U.S. exhibitors presenting fine art, collectible design, antiques, Americana, folk art, ceramics, decorative arts and much more. As in years past, the show is hosted at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the East Terrace. Huntley Platt, manager of the Philadelphia Show, adds that there is exciting programming both in advance of and during the run of the show. “There is a panel discussion with Antiques Roadshow senior producer, Sam Farrell, and Philadelphia Show dealers who are specialists on the show sharing their experiences,” says Platt. “[In addition], there’s various panel discussions and a book signing and lecture with Michael Diaz-Griffith author of…

Now open at the Allentown Art Museum in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is Pennsylvania Impressionism: Paintings from the Leidel Collection. The show, which opened in August 2023, features a dozen works from collection of Karin and Peter Leidel. Artists represented in the exhibition include John Fulton Folinsbee, Daniel Garber, Edward Willis Redfield, Fern Isabel Coppedge, Kenneth Nunamaker and his son Alfred Nunamaker. “We are grateful to have the opportunity to show this work of Pennsylvania Impressionists at the museum,” says Claire McRee, associate curator at the museum. “It comes at an exciting time since we just reinstalled the American art galleries to tell stories about migration, cultural exchanges and other themes. This show will help tell those stories.” McRee notes that the exhibition has some nationally recognized names, such as Daniel Garber,…

An outstanding selection of works by African American artists will be offered during the spring edition of Swann Auction Galleries’ African American Art sale, taking place April 4. “Our auctions continue to bring important works to auction by overlooked African American artists—many worked in the figurative tradition in the post-war period, like Hughie Lee-Smith and Paul Keene,” says Nigel Freeman, Swann’s director of African American art. Lee-Smith’s 1970 oil painting Ball Player, depicting a man engaging in a solitary game, is one of many highlights collectors should keep on their radar during the upcoming sale. “Ball Player, 1970, is a powerful painting that epitomizes the artist’s evocative depictions of African American youth in desolate urban settings,” says Freeman. “[The painting] has been widely exhibited and was in the personal collection…

Bonhams’ fall sale on November 7, 2023 brought works by some of the most sought-after names in historic American art to the market including Martin Johnson Heade, Childe Hassam, Jasper Francis Cropsey, Frederick Carl Frieseke, Mary Cassatt, George Tooker, Andrew Wyeth, Wolf Kahn and Ernie Barnes. The sale saw a 72 percent sell through rate and totaled just over $2.3 million. As anticipated, Barnes’ 1971 painting High Aspirations led the sale as the top lot when it achieved $857,750, far exceeding its high estimate of $700,000. “This is one of the artist’s most prized works and remains today one of the most popularly reproduced as an open edition print,” says Bonhams’ American art specialist Aaron Anderson. Of Barnes’ peach basket basketball scenes, High Aspirations is the most recognizable of the…

Every year, Initiatives in Art and Culture (IAC) curates dynamic, immersive conferences dedicated to a specific topic in American art. The 28th annual American Art Conference, hosted this year by Heritage Auctions in New York, will tackle the notion of “Multiple Modernities” in the historical context of American art. This year IAC’s American Art Conference will take place May 9 through May 11, to coincide with American Art Week, when New York hosts a concentrated number of historic American art auctions, exhibitions and events. One of the centerpieces of the week is the American Art Fair, once again bringing the very best historic fine art on the market and the prestigious galleries and dealers of the genre to Bohemian National Hall from May 11 through 14. Participants in the IAC…

The state of the American decorative arts market is strong. We saw this at Christie’s. Our annual January Americana sale exceeded $9 million, more than doubling the total value of this sale in 2023. The recent auction was buoyed by a return to the live sale room post-Covid, and an influx of new bidders. We are fortunate to have a strong community of seasoned and established collectors, but are also seeing a surge in new buyers to our category. More than one in four participants in our recent sale was new to Americana at Christie’s. Here, I’d like to address some enduring areas and newer trends in the area of American decorative arts collecting, using the results of our recent sale. Some works and themes have an evergreen appeal. Presidents…

Roberto Freitas has been dealing independently in fine American antiques since early 2002. With nearly 30 years of experience in the antiques business, he has learned the trade hand-son, working for other prominent dealers. He exhibits at antiques shows nationwide and has sold to major collections and museums. His inventory consists of period American furniture of the 18th and 19th century, complemented by folk and fine art, decorative objects and antiques, some examples of which are highlighted here. “Choosing art is a highly personal process,” share Freitas. “To me, art should speak to you, evoke feelings or emotions. For example, Martin Johnson Heade’s Coastal Scene brings back warm memories of our spectacular sunsets here in coastal Connecticut. With his unique luminist style, Heade captures the rolling clouds with luminous reds,…

The 2023 edition of the Delaware Antiques Show took place in mid-November 2023, marking a major 60 years of presenting fine art, antiquities and design from some of the most distinguished dealers in the business today. The three-day event featured the highest quality works of art from more than 60 dealers across the United States and the United Kingdom, with strong attendance and robust sales. Organized by the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library and hosted at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware, the Delaware Antiques Show features everything from paintings and porcelain to furniture, rugs, jewelry and more—a wonderland of treasures for both seasoned collectors and newcomers. “Dealers reported brisk sales, with many noting the enthusiastic presence of their regular collectors,” says Jason Brudereck, a spokesperson for…

Hawthorne Fine Art, a champion of historic women artists long before other fine art galleries began shining a spotlight on female artists whose talents went unrecognized during their lifetimes, is presenting an online exhibition and sale of works on paper. “Women artists are finally getting the recognition they deserve through increased scholarship, research and exhibitions,” says Hawthorne Fine Art research associate, Megan Bongiovanni. “People are finally beginning to take notice of their lives and artistic contributions in a large way.” On view March 26 through April 30, Unbound: Works on Paper by Historic Women Artists comprises a dozen-plus watercolor, pastel and pencil pieces depicting coastal scenery, wildlife, florals and figurative works. The intimate exhibition showcases the work of 19th-century women artists, many of whom achieved professional success while working in…

On April 12 and 13, the Scottsdale Art Auction will return to Arizona to bring collectors top Western pieces in a variety of categories, from cowboys and cattle to bronze sculpture to works from the Taos Society of Artists. The sale will also offer important works from outside the West, including major pieces from the East Coast from the 19th and 20th century. An early standout of the sale is Charles M. Russell’s The Broken Rope, a major oil from the famous cowboy artist. The work appears in many books on the artist, and is regarded as an important work by many Russell scholars. Author Frederic G. Renner mentions the work in his 1976 book titled Charles M. Russell. “Many authorities feel that Russell’s greatest work was done between 1902…

MONROVIA, CA JOHN MORAN AUCTIONEERS MARCH 12 Art of the American West John Moran Auctioneers’ upcoming Art of the American West auction presents collectors with a selection of top quality Western artwork, featuring esteemed historic artists like Edgar Payne, Joe DeYong and Ken Payne, whose works serve as gateways to the intriguing allure and magnificence of the Wild West. Collectors of historic works should be on the lookout for DeYong’s 1937 watercolor Indians on Horseback, which has a presale estimate of $3,000 to $5,000, among many other significant works. EAST DENNIS, MA ELDRED’S MARCH 13 Women in the Arts This March, Eldred’s holds its third annual Women in the Arts sale showcasing 19th- and 20th-century women artists often overlooked and underrepresented in the art world. The 2024 sale will have…

On November 10 and 11, Santa Fe Art Auction presented its largest offering of the year, the Signature Annual Live Sale. Sustained bidding amid a diverse selection of materials from all around the Southwest helped bring in more than $2 million in sales with a 90 percent sell-through rate. The sale exemplified “the best of what the auction house brings to offer throughout the year,” Gillian Blitch, the auction president notes. The top lot of the sale was Luis Jimenez’s El Filo, a cast fiberglass work showing a figure on a motorcycle. The 84-inch-long work, of which there are five editions, sold for $115,000, within its estimates of $100,000 to $150,000. A David Barbero painting titled Grande Canyon was a huge sleeper hit at the sale. Estimated at only $10,000…

Strengthening representations of women and sharing “broader stories of early 20th-century culture,” is the newest acquisition to the Metropolitan Museum of Art—a monumental three-part glass window titled Garden Landscape, designed by Agnes F. Northrop (1857-1953). The window measures over 10-feet wide and approximately 7-feet tall, and was created in the studios of the renowned glass artist and jewelry designer, Louis Comfort Tiffany. “This extraordinary evocation of a garden landscape is Northrop’s masterpiece,” says Alice Cooney Frelinghuysen, Anthony W. and Lulu C. Wang curator of American decorative arts. “Made during the height of Louis Tiffany’s career, it was conceived, commissioned and crafted by women. Featuring flowers in bloom from spring through summer, seen in the enigmatic light of approaching twilight, the window presents a luxuriant garden perennially in bloom.” Museum representatives…

John Stuart Gordon, Benjamin Attmore Hewitt curator of American decorative arts at the Yale University Art Gallery, is excited by most things, which comes in handy as the institution’s collection of American decorative art spans the 17th century to the present and includes objects of almost every medium possible. Gordon’s responsibilities include researching the collection and overseeing its care, engaging donors and the public, proposing acquisitions and organizing exhibitions. He also teaches an undergraduate seminar on American silver for Yale’s History of Art department. In addition to the Leslie P. and George H. Hume American Furniture Study, a working library of over 1,300 examples of furniture, clocks and wooden objects dating from 1650 to the present, the core ofYale University’s holdings of American decorative arts is the 10,000-piece Mabel Brady…

Stemming from the Phoenix Art Museum’s permanent collection, the exhibition Thorne Rooms features the original small-scale rooms created by the Indiana native, Narcissa Niblack Thorne (1882-1966). PAM is one of three institutions to have amassed such a comprehensive collection of Thorne rooms, with a total of 20 pieces donated by the artist herself in 1962. “[The artist] began to collect miniature furniture and household accessories during her travels to England and Asia shortly after the 20th century,” explains Rachel Sadvary Zebro, associate curator of collections at PAM. “To house her growing collection of miniature objects, she worked with craftspeople to design and create nearly 100 rooms. Her hope was for these perfectly proportioned rooms, at an exacting scale of one inch to one foot, [to] substitute for the costly and…

About the ongoing exhibition Andrew Dasburg (1887-1979); Symphonic Drawings, gallery owner and director Victoria Addison Rowe says, “At first glance, one might say drawings are just drawings. The works in this exhibition, however, tell a completely different story.” The exhibition of 15 works, highlightsthe variety, skill and complexity of Dasburg’s drawings, covering his early period in the 1910s to a transitioned style in the 1950s, and finally, the late “accomplished,” minimalist period between the 1960s and 70s. Often thought of as “ahead of his time,” Dasburg is known for his contributions to the modernism movement of the early 20th century. “He saw the work of Cezanne in Paris and visited the studio of Matisse,” explains Rowe. “These artists affected his artistic style and Dasburg was one of the few artists…

During a time when the Great Depression left millions of people unemployed, the Works Progress Administration launched its Federal Art Project, offering job opportunities for artists across the country. An exhibition currently on view at the Baltimore Museum of Art titled Art/Work: Women Printmakers of the WPA is a comprehensive exploration of artwork created by women artists in the 1930s and 1940s—a selection of approximately 50 works from the BMA’s extensive holdings of nearly 1,000 prints made by WPA artists. “Art/Work brings to light an incredible array of prints by often little-known women printmakers, expanding the canon of recognized artists of the 1930s and ’40s,” says Virginia Anderson, BMA Curator of American Art and Department Head of American Painting & Sculpture and Decorative Arts. The exhibition sheds light on important…

John Moran Auctioneers 166-lot California and American fine art sale in November 2023 saw an 80 percent sell-through rate culminating in a total close to $800,000. Leading the sale were works by early American artists Edgar Alwin Payne, Benjamin Chambers Brown, Paul De Longpré, William Ritschel and Frederick Waugh, with Payne’s The Water Front, Sottomarina, Italy securing the top lot when it sold for just under its high estimate of $50,000. The painting speaks to Payne’s fondness for travel and depicts a lovely Italian harbor scene. “The Water Front is an extraordinary work by the artist,” says auction house president Jeffrey Moran, adding that the piece was included in the renowned 1926 exhibition at Stendahl Gallery in Los Angeles. “To be sure, 1926 was arguably the pinnacle of Payne’s career and…

Eldred’s Fall Sale took place this past November 16 and 17 to enthusiastic bidding. In total, the annual auction brought in $1.49 million across the twoday sale, which took place on Cape Cod at Eldred’s headquarters. Among the nearly 200 lots were a number of successful highlights in 19th- and 20th-century fine art. An oil on canvas by Lemuel D. Eldred titled Twilight over the Camden Hills, Rockport, Maine bested its $18,000 high estimate when it sold for $32,760. The stunning piece—which features sailboats resting on still waters bathed in warm, glowing light—was purchased by an online buyer and came from an important Connecticut collection. Another top lot was the oil on panelTabletop still life of autumnal fruits, an unsigned 19th-century American School work, artist unknown. Featuring an elaborate fruit…