DALLAS, TX.- On August 28, Heritage announced that in November it would auction some of the most celebrated and iconic art created for the Boy Scouts of America to compensate survivors of childhood sexual abuse. These selected works from the collection of the BSA Settlement Trust, with proceeds benefitting Survivors of childhood sexual abuse while in Scouting, will appear at the top of Heritage's thoughtfully curated November 15 American Art Signature® Auction. Among the 25 landmark works from the collection are masterpieces by Norman Rockwell, led by 1961's Homecoming and 1969's Beyond the Easel and such highlights as J.C. Leyendecker's 1918 Weapons for Liberty. Many of these artworks have been on display at The American Scouting Collection since October 2020 at the Medici Museum of Art in Howland, Ohio, and that exhibition made history by displaying all 65 of Rockwell's Scouting paintings for the first time under one roof.

As part of its bankruptcy plan of reorganization, BSA's artwork was transferred to the BSA Settlement Trust, an independent entity tasked with compensating over 64,000 abuse Survivors.

"Heritage is deeply grateful to have been entrusted with what is undoubtedly one of the most significant collections of Golden Age illustrations to emerge on the market in recent years," said Aviva Lehmann, Heritage's Senior Vice President of American Art. "We are honored to present this museum-caliber collection, which not only celebrates the artistry of Norman Rockwell and other luminaries of the Golden Age but also embodies the rich cultural heritage at the core of our mission as America's largest auction house. Equally important to us is the privilege of supporting the Survivors, underscoring our commitment to both the arts and social responsibility."

The Hon. Barbara J. Houser (Ret.), the Trustee overseeing the administration and distribution of funds to sexual abuse Survivors, says: "These Survivors have waited decades to be heard and acknowledged, and the sale of these works will aid us in providing a measure of justice to them. Buyers should be proud that they will be contributing to rebuilding lives and helping to right past wrongs." To read Heritage's original announcement and learn more about the works in the BSA Settlement Trust that will be offered on Nov. 15, please go here.

The auction overall, which boasts significant works by Maxfield Parrish, John Singer Sargent, Howard Terpning, Childe Hassam, Ernie Barnes and more, presents another leap forward in its special relationship with classic American art — significant works by the most notable artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. The most American of auction houses' connection to this history is built on its dedication to scholarship, connoisseurship, and emphasis on provenance: Heritage understands and loves these works and is proud to share them with collectors who appreciate their place in not only the canon but in America's conception of itself.

"We are thrilled to present this extraordinary auction to our discerning community of collectors, scholars, and curators who, together with Heritage, champion the critical genre of American Art," says Lehmann. "The quality of material showcased in this prestigious event epitomizes the value in classic and early Modern American art, a distinguished category that Heritage is immensely honored to handle."

Golden Age illustration is indeed a particular strong suit at Heritage, and this 1919 painting by Maxfield Parrish for a Fisk Tire advertisement, There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe, exemplifies Parrish's powers — his almost supernatural instincts for composition, narrative, and color that has made him one of the most popular artists in American history. "Parrish seamlessly bridged the realms of fine art and commercial advertising, a rare feat that distinguished him from many of his contemporaries," says Lehmann. "His oeuvre is marked by a distinctive blend of fantasy and realism, which he brought to iconic campaigns such as the Fisk Tire series." In this work, Parrish substitutes the story's namesake shoe with an oversize tire — an enchanting architectural marvel that serves as both a quirky abode for the mother and her band of children and a captivating focal point intricately detailed to evoke a sense of both comfort and absurdity.

Parrish's peer in illustration, J.C. Leyendecker, is represented in this auction not only by his notable works in the BSA Settlement Trust, but also by two stunning Leyendecker originals for Saturday Evening Post covers: Circus Bareback Rider, from 1932, and Night Before Christmas, from 1936. Both come from the Michael Dolas Family Collection. The latter captures the energetic spirit of holiday consumerism in pre-World War II America and presents the frenzied last-minute Christmas shopping rush as an essential part of the season. Leyendecker's good-natured humor along with his clean lines and bold colors shape the festive atmosphere and imbue the scene with cinematic energy. And Circus Bareback Rider emerged during a cultural moment when the American circus was a dominant force in entertainment; Leyendecker's portrayal of the bareback rider celebrates the magic and spectacle of this uniquely American tradition in his brilliant trademark style.

Heading back in time a few decades and giving nod to classic American painting: John Singer Sargent's Portrait of Henri Lefort, from 1882,depicts Henri-Émile Lefort, a French etcher and fellow artist, who became acquainted with Sargent while both worked in Paris. "The early 1880s represent a defining period in John Singer Sargent's career, often referred to as his ‘do no wrong' phase, says Lehmann. "During these years, Sargent's portraits reached an extraordinary level of technical brilliance and creative mastery, marking his ability to not only capture physical likeness but also to reveal the inner essence of his sitters. This portrait retains the richness of brushwork and intensity of tonal values that define Sargent's finest work during this period."

Contemporaneously, American Impressionist Childe Hassam honeymooned in Paris and perfected a technique with pastels in 1888's On the Balcony. It likely portrays his wife, Maude, captured in a private moment of introspection; the work embodies the quiet lyricism of the countryside that stirred Hassam. "Here he has clearly understood pastel's potential and put it to magnificent purpose in this homage to modern painting," says Lehmann.

In the early 1930s, Gaston Lachaise sculpted in marble the torso of his wife and muse Isabel Duteau — a beautiful American ten years his senior. "She was to be an embodiment of womanhood, an epitome of the life force," says Lehmann. "He was to remain passionately devoted to her to the end of his days." This sculpture comes to Heritage as part of a distinguished collection of Frederick H. Schrader, of Napa Valley, and the work's forthright realism and emblematic embrace of woman's latent power show why Lachaise is most remembered for his striking depictions of the female form. Lachaise and his wife were welcome in New York's avant-garde literary and artistic circles, and by the mid-1920s, he was considered by some critics and patrons to be the most innovative sculptor in America.

To get a better sense of the scope of the auction, fast forward to 1978 and Howard A. Terpning's A Watchful Eye, from 1978, which portrays two trappers on horseback navigating the treacherous waters of a fast-moving stream. Terpning is widely celebrated as one of the most prominent artists of the American West, and his shift from commercial illustration to fine art in the 1970s marked a turning point in his career where he began focusing on Western themes. A Watchful Eye exemplifies this transition, blending technical mastery with narrative depth. The tension in the scene is palpable, with water splashing around the horses as they forge ahead; it shows us the trappers' resilience.

In a charming detour, Ernie Barnes' oil on canvas Playin' the Net also hits the block in November. Barnes, who studied art while on a full athletic scholarship for football — he went on to play professionally — was a master of depicting bodies in motion in his artwork, and this painting of two tennis players reaching for the shot showcases Barnes' neo-mannerist way with the explosive physical moment. The complimentary concave arcs into which the players' bodies gracefully contort in balance and harmony characterize Barnes'best sports paintings. The painting comes from the collection of one Dinah Shore, who, although not a professional athlete herself, was an avid fan of tennis. "Barnes has been described as the finest expressive sports painter since George Bellows, and the first professional American athlete to garner artistic acclaim," says Lehmann.