NEW YORK.- Yesterday’s Important American Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture sale at Christie’s in New York was a resounding success. Realizing an exceptional $40,669,200, the sale produced the highest total for any various-owner American Paintings sale in Christie’s history. The final auction result soared over $6 million above the high pre-sale estimate, and marked the highest sale total for any auction house during American Paintings week in New York. Six paintings exceeded $1 million and the sale was 95% sold by value, 84% by lot.

The sale was led by a dramatic full-length masterpiece by Robert Henri, Jessica Penn in Black with White Plumes, 1908, from The Collection of Helen and David B. Pall. Fetching $3.6 million, the work established a new benchmark for the artist, shattering the previous world auction record for Henri which stood at $478,400. Christie’s set new world records for major American masters including Julius LeBlanc Stewart, Sanford Robinson Gifford and Willard Leroy Metcalf, among others.

“It was a thrilling auction today at Christie’s,” said Eric Widing, Senior Vice President and Head of American Paintings, “with many works breaking new barriers and achieving records in a broad range of categories, from the Hudson River School to 20th century modernist paintings.

“Our top lot, Henri’s portrait of Jessica Penn, enchanted many collectors and realized a sensational $3.6 million. We were particularly delighted with the results for Gifford’s spectacular Fire Island beachscape, Julius Stewart’s stunning yachting scene, and Marsden Hartley’s early Cubist masterpiece. Clients vied for the best works, and it was a thrill to watch Christopher Burge manage the bidding battles playing out in the room. The American paintings market is vibrant and we look forward to a strong Fall season.”