NEW YORK, NY.- Widely acclaimed American Impressionist Frederick Carl Friesekes "The Garden Chair" achieved a staggering $962,500 in the May 21 American Art auction at
Bonhams, the third largest international fine art auction house. The saleroom was filled for the 92-lot auction.
Friesekes masterpiece of 1912 was painted in his Giverny home, where he was a neighbor to French Impressionist Claude Monet. The term Decorative Impressionism was coined by an art writer referring to Friesekes style which combined decorative style, expressively using color and pattern, with classic Impressionist interest in atmosphere and sunlight. Friesekes style is reminiscent of Renoirs light and colorful palette.
Also highlighting the sale, George Catlins impressive Blackfoot Indian Group sold for $338,500. Catlin traveled with explorer William Clark, of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, studying and depicting the daily lives of more than 50 Indian tribes with meticulous detail. Additionally, Horace Pippins charming Flowers with Four Doilies achieved $146,500 (est. $50,000-70,000), while Portrait of Ms. Theodore Frothingham, Jr., by John Singer Sargent brought $110,500 (est. $60,000-80,000).
Generating much attention during the sale were American landscapes, including a radiant woodland landscape, Brook in Woods by Albert Bierstadt that achieved $146,500 and an alluring Haze in the Valley by Charles Courtney Curran that sold for $80,500. John Marins Village, Maine reached $60,000 and a triumphant cityscape Manhattan in Winter by Guy Carleton Wiggins brought $134,500.
Interest was high in sculpture and multi-dimensional works of the sale, most notably Ginerva by Hiram Powers and Briseis by Paul Howard Manship, which each achieved $60,000.
Works by artists Henry Merwin Shrady, Charles Burchfield and James Abbott McNeill Whistler also brought strong results.
Kayla Carlsen, Senior Specialist and Head of Sales of American Art at Bonhams, commented of the sale, We are pleased with the results of today's auction which indicates that the market is still responding to works that are fresh and have strong provenance. We now look forward to our summer sale of California and Western Art and our fall sale of American Art.