Located in Philadelphia, Freeman’s is one of the prime auction houses for important examples of Pennsylvania Impressionist works, offering the biggest names during its twice yearly American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists auctions. The next sale of the category, happening virtually December 6 at 2 p.m. local time, will continue this tradition with works by Daniel Garber, Edward Willis Redfield, George Sotter and Fern Isabel Coppedge being just a few of the highlights.
Daniel Garber (1880-1958), The Last of Winter, 1912. Oil on canvas, 42 x 42 in., signed and dated bottom center left. Estimate: $250/400,000
“It’s interesting because in each sale, there’s always one artist who seems to be predominant. This year it is clearly Daniel Garber. In the last sale, in June, we had three or four, and had a good response,” says Alasdair Nichol, chairman and head of the fine art department at Freeman’s. “We are delighted to have six this time.”
Nichol explains that many collectors consider Garber to be the quintessential of the Pennsylvania Impressionists, having been the only artist in the category to break past the $1 million mark at auction. Four of the works in this auction come from the descendants of Harold Saylor, who was a prominent judge in Philadelphia and one of Garber’s biggest supporters. “He probably owned more works by Garber than any other individual,” says Nichol. “These have never been offered at auction before.”
Edward Willis Redfield (1869-1965), At the Crossroads, 1913. Oil on canvas, 32 x 40 in., signed and dated bottom right. Estimate: $150/250,000
The standout from that grouping is The Last Winter, which is expected to sell between $250,000 and $400,000. “It was painted in 1912, just a month before his painting Wilderness, which is considered by many to be one of his masterpieces,” Nichol shares. “You can see similarities between the trees and compositions.”
Another Garber in the sale, arriving from a private Pennsylvania collection that has had the work for 30 years, is Weatherby’s Oak, or sometimes referred to as The Picnic. It has an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. Garber’s Winter also arrives at auction, but from a corporate collection in Philadelphia, with an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000.
George Sotter (1879-1953), The Neighbor’s House. Oil on Masonite, 26 x 22 in., signed and dated bottom right. Estimate: $100/150,000
Three paintings by George Sotter will be in the sale, including The Neighbor’s House, which is expected to fetch between $100,000 and $150,000. The oil on Masonite, painted in 1949, is typical of the artist’s output, but slightly atypical because of its vertical composition. Also in the Pennsylvania Impressionist category are Edward Willis Redfield’s At the Crossroads (est. $150/250,000) and Fern Isabel Coppedge’s The Cider Mill (est. $50/80,000).
Rockwell Kent (1882-1971), Wake Up, America!, 1941. Oil on burlap, 34 x 44 in., signed, dated and copyrighted bottom right. Estimate: $200/300,000
In the American art segment of the sale the notable lot is Wake Up, America!, by Rockwell Kent, which was painted in 1941, prior to America joining World War II. “It’s a powerful piece and different from his other works. It shows the artist’s political aspects. He was a man of the left and concerned about the right,” says Nichol. “This was his statement about that. It’s a powerful painting, I think, and we’ve already had interest in it.” The painting is expected to fetch between $200,000 and $300,000.
Fern Isabel Coppedge (1883-1951), The Cider Mill. Oil on canvas, 23½ x 23½ in., signed bottom left. Estimate: $50/80,000
John Singer Sargent (1856-1925), Lake Garda, 1913. Watercolor on paper, 16 x 20¾ in., signed bottom left. Estimate: $50/80,000
Another big name in the auction is John Singer Sargent, who is represented by a watercolor he painted in the 1930s during one of his final trips to Italy. The painting, titled Lake Garda, is from a series of works of the Italian lakes where Sargent gave importance to the effects of the water. It comes from a private collection with an estimate of $50,000 to $80,000.
Daniel Garber (1880-1958), Weatherby’s Oak (The Picnic), ca. 1918. Oil on canvas, 40 x 36 in., signed bottom left. Estimate: $200/300,000
While the sale will be taking place online, leading up to the auction collectors are able to make arrangements to preview pieces in person with safety protocols in place. Collectors are able to spend time with the works and talk more one-on-one about items that are of interest to them. —
Powered by Froala Editor
