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Bonhams’ American Art sale includes phenomenal representation across the Hudson River and Ashcan Schools, among other major works

May 26, 2 p.m.

Bonhams
580 Madison Avenue
t: (212) 644-9001
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This May, Bonhams will hold the spring edition of its American Art auction, and as always, the sale will feature some of the very best in historic American fine art. A preview will take place beginning May 21 through the morning of May 26.Fairfield Porter (1907-1975), Still Life of Flowers on a Mirror, 1966. Oil on canvas, 20 x 18 in., signed and dated upper right: ‘Fairfield Porter 66’. Estimate: $100/150,000

“This sale is a wonderful representation of the category, with many of the schools which are the pillars of the category including Hudson River, modernist, Ashcan and impressionist being included,” says Morgan Martin, American art specialist at Bonhams. Among the highlights in the sale, according to Martin, is a James Abbott McNeill Whistler piece titled Stormy Sea. “The initial request for an estimate came in through a cold call to a colleague. After scouring the catalogue raisonné of the artist, we were only able to find it based upon an old grainy image, no dimensions or medium. The only listed provenance for the work was that it was with William Bell Paterson in 1927—an art dealer on Old Bond Street in London—making this work a wonderful rediscovery,” Martin explains. “According to the current owner, this work has been in her family for over 70 years, so it is incredibly fresh to market.” Stormy Sea is expected to fetch between $80,000 and $120,000.Milton Avery (1885-1965), Yellow Sailfish, 1960. Oil on canvas, 34¼ x 54 1/8 in., signed and dated lower right: ‘Milton Avery 1960’. Estimate: $500/700,000

James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834-1903), Stormy Sea, ca. 1885-90. Watercolor on board 6 7/8 x 10 in., signed with artist’s device lower left. Estimate: $80/120,000

Another work that is fresh to the market is Milton Avery’s oil on canvas Yellow Sailfish (est. $500/700,000), which was last on view to the public during an exhibition back in 1983. “This impressive, monochromatic canvas depicting a singular Dhow boat was executed in 1960 during the most important period of Avery’s career,” Martin adds.

“Another beautiful work of modernism in the sale is Fairfield Porter’s Still life of Flowers on a Mirror. This gorgeous still life from 1966 presents a beautiful bouquet of flowers, resting on a mirror topped table which is accompanied by a pitcher of olive oil and grinder of pepper. The palette on this work is darker and more sharply contrasted than most works by the artist from this period, imbuing it with a sense of mystery,” says Martin. Porter’s still life has a presale estimate of $100,000 to $150,000.Robert Henri (1865-1929), La Mora, 1912. Oil on canvas, 41 1/8 x 33 in., signed lower left: ‘Robert Henri’; signed again, inscribed with title on verso: ‘- Gipsy / Spain,’; inscribed with artist’s notebook number on verso; and inscribed ‘Novia’ and inscribed with title twice (on the tacking edges). Estimate: $200/300,000

Ernie Barnes (1938-2009), The Maestro, ca. 1971. Acrylic on canvas, 20 x 24 in., signed lower right: ‘Ernie Barnes’. Estimate: $25/35,000Another favorite in the sale, he continues, is The Maestro by Ernie Barnes, which is set at $25,000 to $35,000. “This work comes to us from the collection of the Los Angeles Athletic Club and was included in the seminal exhibition for the artist at the High Museum in Atlanta, The Beauty of the Ghetto: A Visual Tribute to the Spirit Heritage of Black America,” says Martin. “There are so many wonderful works in this sale that it is hard to pick just a few that I adore.”

Also included in the May sale will be paintings, drawings and sculpture from the collections of Lynda Thomas; Emily K. Yeager of Fernandina Beach, Florida; the Daniel B. Abeloff Trust; Herb and Lucy Pruzan of Seattle; and the Los Angeles Athletic Club, among many others. —