The Golden Age

Works from Golden Age illustrators perform strongly in Christie’s fall sale in New York

Major pieces from Norman Rockwell, N.C. Wyeth, George Hughes, Maxfield Parrish and other artists from the Golden Age of Illustration performed strongly at Christie’s November 20 American art sale in New York City. The fall auction realized $21.8 million. Norman Rockwell (1894-1978), Harvest Moon (Young Lovers on a Hay Rick), ca. 1920s. Oil on canvas, 34 x 21 in., signed lower right: ‘Norman/Rockwell’.
Estimate: $1/1.5 million SOLD: $975,000

Rockwell performed especially strong with four works in the top 10: Landscapes: Sledding (est. $600/800,000) that sold for $711,000; Harvest Moon (Young Lovers on a Hay Rick) (est. $1/1.5 million) that achieved $975,000; Laughing Boy with Sandwich and Puppy (Hungry Buddies) (est. $150/250,000) that brought in $519,000; and Red Head (est. $600/800,000), which came in at $495,000.Winslow Homer (1836-1910), Sounding Reveille, 1871. Oil on canvas, 13 x 19½ in., signed and inscribed lower right: ‘Winslow Homer/1865’. Estimate: $1.2/1.8 million SOLD: $1,815,000

Elsewhere in the sale, Parrish’s Study for Scribner’s Poster (est. $80/120,000) sold for $225,000, while two George Hughes Saturday Evening Post covers, No Chance to Be Alone (est. $30/50,000) and Messy Room, Neat Boys (est. $25/35,000), sold for $106,250 each.

The big battle was for the top lot, which was claimed by Andrew Wyeth’s Oliver’s Cap, a tempera on panel from 1981. The piece, from the Ron and Diane Disney Miller Collection, sold for $2.4 million, just below its $3 million high estimate. Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009), Oliver’s Cap, 1981. Tempera on panel, 48 x 48 in., signed lower right: ‘Andrew Wyeth’. Estimate: $3/5 million SOLD: $2,415,000

Just below that Wyeth was another Wyeth, this one from Andrew’s father, illustrator N.C. Wyeth, whose “Oh, Morgan’s men are out for you; and Blackbeard‒‒buccaneer!…” sold within estimates for nearly $2.3 million. The image originally appeared in a 1917 issue of Scribner’s Magazine, where it accompanied the narrative poem “The Golden Galleon” by Paul Hervey Fox.

Other top lots were Georgia O’Keeffe’s Pink Spotted Lillies (est. $1.2/1.8 million), which brought a robust $1.9 million, and Stuart Davis’ Synthetic Souvenir (est. $400/600,000), which sold above estimate at $795,000. Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986), Pink Spotted Lillies, 1936. Oil on canvas, 20 x 16 in., signed with initials in artist’s star device: ‘OK’; inscribed with title and dated on a piece of original backing: ‘36’. Estimate: $1.2/1.8 million SOLD: $1,935,000

Western lots also did quite well, with Eanger Irving Couse’s 1918 oil Flute Player at the Spring soaring past its $350,000 high estimate when it sold for $435,000. Couse, one of the founders of the Taos Society of Artists, was joined by other founders: Joseph Henry Sharp’s Jerry of Taos (est. $80/120,000), which sold for $100,000, and Oscar E. Berninghaus’ In the High Aspens (est. $60/80,000) that yielded $112,500. Other Western lots were Alfred Jacob Miller’s Trappers around a Campfire with the Wind River Mountains of the Rockies in the Background (est. $200/300,000), which sold for $423,000, and two iconic Frederic Remington bronzes, The Broncho Buster at $399,000 and The Rattlesnake at $200,000.N.C. Wyeth (1882-1945), “Oh, Morgan’s men are out for you; and Blackbeard--buccaneer!…”, 1917. Oil on canvas, 50¼ x 35 in., signed lower right: ‘N.C. Wyeth’. Estimate: $2/3 million SOLD: $2,295,000

“Our November auction featured strong results for fresh to market works by iconic artists, including the Andrew Wyeth from the Ron and Diane Disney Miller Collection, the Georgia O’Keeffe from the Alsdorf Collection, and the Norman Rockwell from the Weisman Collection,” says Paige Kestenman, head of sales in the American art department at Christie’s. “Overall we saw continued enthusiasm for the category, from 19th-century Hudson River School paintings to American illustration.” —

Top 10 sales

Christie’s, American art, November 20, 2019 (including buyer’s premium)
Artist, Title, Low/High ESt. , SOLD

Andrew Wyeth, Oliver’s Cap, $3/5 million, $2,415,000
N.C. Wyeth, “Oh, Morgan’s Men…” , $2/3 million, $2,295,000
Georgia O’Keeffe, Pink Spotted Lillies, $1.2/1.8 million, $1,935,000
Winslow Homer, Sounding Reveille, $1.2/1.8 million, $1,815,000
Norman Rockwell, Harvest Moon (Young Lovers on a Hay Rick), $1/1.5 million, $975,000
Stuart Davis, Synthetic Souvenir, $400/600,000, $795,000
Norman Rockwell , Landscapes: Sledding, $600/800,000, $711,000
Sanford Robinson Gifford , Mansfield Nose, $500/700,000, $519,000
Norman Rockwell, Laughing Boy with Sandwich and Puppy..., $150/250,000, $519,000
Norman Rockwell, Red Head, $600/800,000, $495,000