MILFORD, CONN.- Oil paintings by the celebrated American Impressionist Charles Courtney Curran (N.Y., 1861-1942) will headline
Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers’ biannual American and European Fine Art Auction on Thursday, October 27th at 6 pm Eastern time, in the firm's gallery at 354 Woodmont Road in Milford. Internet bidding will be facilitated by www.Invaluable.com.
Maternal Cares, an early masterpiece by the artist, depicts Curran’s daughter in a tender scene playing with her dolls (est. $60,000-$80,000). Blue and Gold features the best elements of Curran’s paintings; bright sunlight, young women and a pastel palette (est. $40,000-$60,000). Five other quality examples of Curran’s artwork from various periods will also come up for bid.
Other American Impressionist paintings will include Edmund Tarbell’s To My Mother, Portrait of Maria Sophia Fernald Tarbell (est. $30,000-$50,000); Walter Launt Palmer’s Upland Stream, Mohawk Valley (est. $30,000-$50,000); William Merritt Chase’s Old Houses Near Rothenburg (est. $30,000-$50,000); Willard Leroy Metcalf’s Lengthening Shadows, No. 1 (Resting at the Haystack) (est. $30,000-$50,000); Pauline Palmer’s Backstreet, Provincetown (Est. $20,000-$30,000) and Elizabeth Nourse’s Belgian Flower Vendors, Gravensteen (Est. $8,000-$12,000).
The Hudson River School will be well represented, with leading paintings by Alfred T. Bricher (est. $50,000-$70,000), Jasper F. Cropsey (est. $30,000-$50,000), George Inness (est. $30,000-$50,000), John Williamson (est. $20,000-$40,000), Alexander Wyant (est. $20,000-$30,000), and William Bradford (est. $15,000-$25,000).
Other Hudson River School examples will include paintings by Dwight W. Tryon, James M. Hart, William M. Brown, Worthington Whittredge, Thomas Doughty, John R. Key, Charles W. Knapp and George Waters. A rare, quality still-life painting by Robert Spear Dunning will be offered from a private collection.
Sandra Germain, a principal at Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers, said, “We are excited that this sale will feature works by of a variety of artists over different periods. Our clients are happy to see many fresh-to-the-market examples by well-known artists and newly discovered national treasures.”
The Modern and Contemporary offerings will be led by Louise Bourgeois’ Give or Take III (How do you feel this morning?), a disembodied bronze claw part of the artist’s “Give or Take” series.; and paintings by Dale Nichols, Esteban Vicente, Le Pho, Alice Mattern, Cleve Gray, Hughie Lee Smith, Leland Bell, Ralph Scarlett and George L.K. Morris.
The 19th Century European art will include large-format paintings and sculptures by Leon Jean Basile Perrault, Luigi Bechi, Antonio Argenti, Antonio Casanova Y Estorach and Emile Auguste Pinchart. The Bechi painting is a particularly strong example. A smaller sketch of the work sold at an auction in Italy for $15,000 in 2011.
Two historical portrait miniatures of President George and First Lady Martha Washington were recently rediscovered in a private collection (est. $60,000-$80,000 each). They were painted at the turn of the 18th century by Robert Field and Walter Robertson. Martha Washington’s portrait miniature, by Robertson, includes a plaited lock of hair on the reverse. It is presumed to be hers.
The Meredith-Moreau-Pratt miniature of President Washington depicts the first President in civilian dress. It is thought to be the first in a series painted by Mr. Field after a portrait by his friend Gilbert Stuart. Field sold the portrait to General Samuel Meredith, the first Treasurer of the United States under George Washington, for his son Thomas Meredith.
In 1853, Samuel Meredith’s grandson sold the miniature to Charles C. Moreau, a famous New York City collector. Moreau then sold the portrait to another well-known collector, Herbert Pratt. The last two portraits of Washington from the series of eight known by Field depict the President in military dress. These were sold at auction in 2008 and 2009 for an astounding $303,000 and $336,000, respectively. One of these was acquired by the Yale University Art Gallery.
Previews will be held daily, continuing through Thursday, Oct. 27th (closed Sunday, Oct. 23rd). Preview hours are 11-6, except on Saturday, Oct. 22nd, when the preview will end at 3 pm. There will also be a preview on Thursday, October 27th, the date of sale, from noon until 5:30 pm. The auction will start promptly at 6 pm. Live, internet, phone and absentee bidding will be permitted.
Shannon’s produces an extensive 180-page, color catalog, which is available for sale on their website (shannons.com). A large, 8-page color brochure will also be mailed to 18,000 clients.
Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions.
Shannon’s will be holding an online Fine Art Auction in January 2017.
