Exceptional and Expressive

Artist Ernie Barnes commands the sale in another successful edition of Bonhams’ American Art auction

A series of fine art auctions held by Bonhams this past November saw superb results—from a remarkable series of modern masterpieces by Hans Hofmann in The Estate of Melvin S. Rosenthal auction, which achieved $3.3 million, to the Post-War & Contemporary Art sale featuring the important Estate of Sherman K. Edmiston Jr. And on November 17 was the auction house’s fall edition of its American Art sale, drawing in a massive $1.6 million in total sales amongst approximately 70 lots.

Ernie Barnes (1938-2009), Bojangles, 1976. Acrylic on canvas, 18 x 24 in., signed lower right: ‘ERNIE BARNES’. Estimate: $120/180,000 SOLD: $315,375

Leading the American Art auction was 20th-century artist Ernie Barnes’ Bojangles, featuring the iconic dancer Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson in an expressive pose, looking out a window. The figure has his back to the viewer, accentuating the long coattails of his suit. Painted by Barnes in 1976, the piece soared past its presale estimate of $120,000 to $180,000 when it sold for $315,375. Another Barnes piece, Her Metier, reached $53,295.

Winslow Homer (1836-1910), Sailboats at Gloucester, 1880. Watercolor and pencil on paper, 81/8 x 139/16 in. Estimate: $250/350,000 SOLD: $239,775

James Edward Buttersworth (1817-1894), West of New York Harbor. Oil on panel, 95/8 x 141/8 in., signed lower right: ‘J.E. Buttersworth’. Estimate: $40/60,000 SOLD: $60,855

“It was an exciting sale day in New York, and we are extremely pleased with the exceptional results achieved across the board,” says Morgan Martin, head of department for American Art at Bonhams in New York. “The market for Ernie Barnes continues to show its strength as seen with his incredible painting of Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson leading the sale and breezing well beyond its estimate.”

Werner Drewes (1899-1985), Expectation of New Events, 1944. Oil on canvas, 211/8 x 461/8 in. Estimate: $10/15,000 SOLD: $75,975

Sailboats at Gloucester, one of Winslow Homer’s classic marine scenes, achieved $239,775, just narrowly missing its $250,000 low estimate. Additionally, West of New York Harbor (est. $40/60,000) by James Edward Buttersworth sold for $60,855 and Figure on a Pier at Edge of Lake (est. $30/50,000) by Edward Bannister (1828-1901) went for $48,255. And notably, a Sally Michel Avery piece painted in 1962 achieved more than six times its high estimate when it sold for $38,175.

Top 10 Sales

Bonhams, American Art, November 17, 2022 (including buyer’s premium)

Artist | Title | Low/High ESt. | SOLD

Ernie Barnes | Bojangles | $120/180,000 | $315,375

Winslow Homer | Sailboats at Gloucester | $250/350,000 | $239,775

Werner Drewes | Expectation of New Events | $10/15,000 | $75,975

James Edward Buttersworth | West of New York Harbor | $40/60,000 | $60,855

Ernie Barnes | Her Metier | $60/80,000 | $53,295

Robert Gwathmey | Country Gospel Music | $20/30,000 | $50,775

Edward Bannister | Figure on a Pier at Edge of Lake | $30/50,000 | $48,255

Sally Michel Avery | Artist and Apertif | $4/6,000 | $38,175

Wolf Kahn | From Sword’s “Stand of Elms” | $25/35,000 | $31,875