Sotheby’s midseason American Art sale featured works of ships at anchor in New York waters, Native Americans riding into battle on the frontier, classic Pennsylvania Impressionist works of wooded groves and barns, and street scenes in Boston. The auction offered a unique cross section of America, as well as American art. 
Edward Moran (1829-1901), Sunrise at the Narrows, New York Bay, 1872. Oil on canvas, 24 x 42¼ in. Estimate: $100/150,000 SOLD $239,400
The sale, held online from September 21 to 30, realized more than $3.4 million with a 77 percent sell-through rate. The top lot was Edward Moran’s 1872 oil Sunrise at the Narrows, New York Bay. It sold for $239,400, soaring well over its $150,000 high estimate. 
Jane Peterson (1876-1965), Gloucester Boats, ca. 1916. Oil on canvas, 30 x 40¼ in. Estimate: $150/250,000 SOLD $226,800
“We are pleased with the results of our September midseason sale,” says Elizabeth Goodridge, specialist in Sotheby’s American art department. “The sale showed very strong prices for 19th-century Hudson River School paintings, including the top work of the sale, Edward Moran’s Sunrise at the Narrows depicting the view of New York Bay. American modernism and American Western art also finished strong across the board, with three works by John Clymer represented among our top 10 results, and a world auction record achieved for a pastel by Wolf Kahn.” 
John Clymer (1907-1989), Victory Ride, 1972. Oil on canvas, 24 x 40 in. Estimate: $70/100,000 SOLD: $163,800
Marsden Hartley (1877-1943), Still Life with Blue Bowl, 1922-23. Oil on canvas, 213/8 x 255/8 in. Estimate: $150/250,000 SOLD: $214,200
Clymer, who is turning up more frequently at New York’s American art auctions, was first an illustrator who created artwork for Field & Stream, Argosy and The Saturday Evening Post. He was part of a group of artists who left illustration in the 1970s and turned to Western art. All three of his offered works—Victory Ride, Crazy Horse and Buffalo Crossing—exceeded their high estimates, with Victory Ride leading the way at $163,800.
Other highlights from the 128-lot sale include Jane Peterson’s Gloucester Boats (est. $150/250,000) that sold for $226,800; Marsden Hartley’s Still Life with Blue Bowl (est. $150/250,000) that sold for $214,200; and Stuart Davis’ UFO (est. $100/150,000) that sold for $119,700.
Elsewhere in the sale were important examples from John Marin, Wolf Kahn, Hermann Herzog and many others. —
Top 10 sales
Sotheby’s, American Art, September 21-30, 2020 (including buyer’s premium)
Artist Title Low/High ESt. SOLD
Edward Moran Sunrise at the Narrows, New York Bay $100/150,000 $239,400
Jane Peterson Gloucester Boats $150/250,000 $226,800
Marsden Hartley Still Life with Blue Bowl $150/250,000 $214,200
John Clymer Victory Ride $70/100,000 $163,800
John Clymer Crazy Horse $80/120,000 $151,200
Stuart Davis UFO $100/150,000 $119,700
John Clymer Buffalo Crossing $60/80,000 $107,100
George Inness St. Andrews, New Brunswick $100/150,000 $100,800
Edward Redfield The Brook $80/120,000 $100,800
Wolf Kahn High Barn $30/50,000 $88,200
Powered by Froala Editor
