The noteworthy collection of William N. Banks Jr.—scholar, collector, historian, preservationist and playwright, among other accolades—is up for auction during a September sale held by Brunk Auctions. The September 12 sale will be conducted both live in Asheville, North Carolina, and online, and will feature more than 300 lots from Banks’ personal estate Bankshaven, a historic property and architectural treasure in Newnan, Georgia. Over the years, the collector amassed major works in 19th-century American painting purchased primarily through New York auctions, as well as some exceptional pieces of decorative art and furniture. He also actively bought from some of the most prominent galleries in the business, including Hirschl & Adler in New York and Vose Galleries in Boston. 
George Henry Durrie (1820-1863), Gathering Wood for Winter, New Haven, 1855. Oil on canvas. Estimate: $150/250,000
Asher Brown Durand (1796-1886), Franconia Range from the South with Village of South Woodstock, New Hampshire, 1857. Oil on canvas. Estimate: $300/500,000
“The collection is a testament to Mr. Banks’ highly sophisticated eye,” says Andrew Brunk, president and CEO of Brunk Auctions. “He was a rare and true aesthete—a collector and connoisseur at the highest level. Brunk is honored to handle this exceptional collection.”
Considered a Renaissance man, Banks was passionate about historic art, architecture and landscape and was well known for preserving historic homes in Georgia and New Hampshire. He passed away at the age of 95 this past November.
John Frederick Kensett (1816-1872), Beacon Rock, Newport, 1856. Oil on canvas. Estimate: $250/350,000
Sanford Robinson Gifford (1823-1880), Mt. Washington from the Saco River, 1856. Oil on canvas. Estimate: $200/300,000
Highlights in the sale include an oil painted by Sanford Robinson Gifford in 1856, Mt. Washington from the Saco River, which is expected to sell between $200,000 and $300,000; Asher Brown Durand’s 1857 oil on canvas Franconia Range from the South with Village of South Woodstock, New Hampshire (est. $300/500,000); and Jasper Francis Cropsey’s White Mountain Scenery an 1856, oil on board estimated at $70,000 to $90,000. Other exceptional painting highlights include John Frederick Kensett’s Beacon Rock, Newport, an 1856 oil on canvas (est. $250/350,000) and George Henry Durrie’s 1855 oil Gathering Wood for Winter, New Haven (est. $150/250,000).
Brunk Auctions’ sale of the Banks estate will begin at 9 a.m. EDT. —
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