DALLAS, TX .- Frederick Sackrider Remington’s Apache Signal Fire, 1891 – one of the artist’s first and most important nocturnes – is expected to bring more than $200,000 when it comes up for bid as part of Heritage Auctions’ Tuesday, May 17 Signature® Western Art Auction, taking place at the company’s Design District Annex, 1518 Slocum Street.

“Western art is such a powerhouse for Heritage,” said Kirsty Buchanan, Consignment Director at Heritage Auctions, “and we continue to raise the bar for quality works, as evidenced by Remington’s Apache Signal Fire.”

For over 45 years Apache Signal Fire was part of the private collection of Marge Schotts, the colorful owner of the Cincinnati Reds. It was originally commissioned for Century Magazine in 1891, and demonstrates a powerful narrative and sublime execution that predates Remington’s other major nocturnes.

“Apache Signal Fire holds vast cultural significance, not just for its place within Remington’s oeuvre, but more importantly for its place within American history,” said Buchanan. “Remington was an artist who strove to tell both sides of a story; here he’s portraying the disappearing ways of life for the Native Americans, and by inference, that of the cowboys who were pursuing them during the same period.”

The Taos Society of Artists is always a popular draw in Heritage Western Art events, and Birger Sandzén’s epic canvas Late Moon Rising (Wild Horse Creek), 1923 (estimate: $80,000+), is a luminous example of the artist and the philosophy of the Taos School at its best. The vibrant palette, brilliancy of light and strength of composition demonstrate why Sandzén was elected an associate member of the famed Society.

“This painting comes to auction from the private collection of one of the students who studied art with Sandzén during his 50-year tenure as professor at Bethany College,” said Buchanan. “Upon her graduation, the student’s family bought her this painting as a college graduation gift. Given that large-scale works by the artist do not appear on the market very often, such major paintings are highly sought-after. We expect collectors to bid accordingly.”

One of the most unusual works that Heritage will offer on May 17 is the W.H. Holmes watercolor Mount of the Holy Cross, 1873, estimated at $15,000+. This work was given as a wedding present to photographer William Henry Jackson by the artist, but after the artist’s death the unsigned work was misattributed to Thomas Moran.

“Holmes’ depiction is one of the earliest known images of the famed mountain near Santa Cruz,” said Buchanan. “Properly attributing this work has been a massive research project, and Heritage has to thank Dr. Patricia Trenton for her connoisseurship and scholarship in correcting this decades-old mistake.”

Further highlights include, but are not limited to:

Frank McCarthy, Stolen Ponies: Oil on canvas. Estimate: $40,000+.

Tim Cox, Waiting For Dad, 1991: Oil on masonite. Estimate: $25,000+.

Clark Hullings, Man From Belmonte, 1967: Oil on canvas. Estimate: $30,000+.

Martin Grelle, Autumn Morning, 1991: Oil on canvas. Estimate: $25,000+.

Wilhelm Kuhnert, Zebras, 1912: Oil on canvas. Estimate: $20,000+.

Eanger Irving Couse, The Spirit of the Pool: Oil on board. Estimate: $25,000+.

Bill Anton, Sierra Nomads, 1999: Oil on panel. Estimate: $18,000+.