PHILADELPHIA, PA.- It was a full house for Freeman’s June 7 American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists auction, and once again, this collecting category brought excellent results. The sale matched the December 2014 auction total of $3.4 million, which was the highest amount achieved at Freeman’s in recent years for a various owner fine art sale. In addition, it was a more closely curated auction offering 125 lots.

“I was absolutely delighted with the results. Our department was keen to keep this auction tighter and raise the average lot value of the works in the sale. So yes, ultimately, there were fewer lots, but we had close to a 90% sell-through rate, our highest to date, and more works sold for six figures,” said Freeman’s vice chairman and head of fine art Alasdair Nichol. “There was also tremendous energy in a packed room, which is a rarity in an era where Internet and phone bidding predominate. It is resoundingly clear that our American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists auctions have become unmissable events for those interested in high-quality works of art.”

N.C. Wyeth’s “However, At Last I Taught Him to Call Me By My Name Very Familiarly” was the high point of the day, bringing $353,000 and soaring past its estimate of $80,000-120,000 (above). This colorful and animated painting was the cover illustration of the 1920 edition of Daniel Defoe’s classic Robinson Crusoe.

Following Wyeth, was Pennsylvania Impressionist Robert Spencer’s “The Little Village,” fetching $341,000 and tripling its estimate (pictured left). Perennial Pennsylvania impressionists favorites Daniel Garber and Edward Willis Redfield also generated much excitement, with Redfield’s wintry “The Road to Centre Bridge” bringing $233,000 and Garber’s autumnal hued “Shadows” achieving $209,000.

“The June 7 results for Pennsylvania Impressionists remain robust,” added Nichol. “Freeman’s and Philadelphia are where the Pennsylvania Impressionists belong and where the market is strongest.”

Freeman’s has witnessed tremendous growth within this collecting category since separating their Fine American & European Art auction into two specialty sales in 2013. The average lot value for American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists works has increased 276%, while final sale results have double to 240% with fewer lots offered in each auction. Freeman’s has continued to attract the interest of collectors, both nationally and internationally, with their offerings; seven of the nine top lots on Sunday were sold to private buyers.

The next American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists auction will be held on December 6, 2015.