PHILADELPHIA, PA.- Led by the success of Daniel Garber's "Old Farm in the Hills," which realized $457,000 against an estimate of $200,000-300,000, Freeman's June 13 sale of 'Fine American & European Paintings and Sculpture' was a testament to the strength and resilience of the current art market. Works by other Pennsylvania artists also fared well, as did a number of British and Continental paintings, with 87 percent of the lots offered selling (by value), for a total of $2,089,433.

Two Dutch paintings, "Street Scene with Figures" by Cornelis Springer (estimate $60,000-100,000) and "At the Beach," by Bernardus Johannes Blommers (estimate $80,000-120,000) in particular sparked transatlantic bidding wars, with the former, a fine 'day-in-the-life' Dutch selling for $193,000, and the latter, one of the largest seashore pictures by The Hague master to come to market recently, bringing $109,000.

Other highlights amongst the European paintings offered in this sale included Edouard Jean Baptiste Detaille's "L'Oeil Du Maitre" (estimate $20,000-30,000), which more than doubled its high estimate at $67,000. Also of the cavalier theme was "Musketeer" by Raphael Enriquez y Villanueva selling for $16,250 (estimate $1,000-1,500), a world record for the artist. A late, but memorable addition to this sale was one of the larger decorative canvases by French modern master Le Pho to appear on the market in recent years. Privately consigned and originally retailed by Wally Findlay Galleries, it sailed over estimate, finally settling at a remarkable $91,000.

"Interest has remained consistently strong for good blue chip paintings by American masters, including the leading lights amongst the Pennsylvania impressionists," remarked Vice-Chairman and head of department Alasdair Nichol. This sale featured four Coppedge oils, including two classic winter vistas, "The Hill Road," and "Winter Solitude, Lambertville," with each having been originally acquired directly from Coppedge, the former realizing $85,000, the latter selling for $67,000. An interesting 'Town Bench, Naples, Florida' painting, by the less widely known Richard Gibson Wedderspoon brought $16,250 over its $6,000-10,000 while a large, well rendered impressionist interior by local favorite Martha Walter, 'Boy in Black Cape,' was hammered down at $85,000. Two Cornwallian views by Walter E. Schofield, "The Coast of Cornwell" and "The Outer Harbor, Polperro" brought $22,000 and $38,500, respectively.

Landscapes by 19th century artists based in New York , also sold well in this auction: lot 65, 'Steamships and Sailing Boats in New York Harbor ' by Edward Moran (estimate $10,000-15,000) sailed to $32,200, 'Coast Bit, West Lulworth ' by Jasper Francis Cropsey (estimate $20,000-30,000) realized $40,000.

Consignments are currently being accepted for Freeman's next sale of 'Fine American & European Paintings and Sculpture', which will be held December 5th.