Visions of America

Sotheby’s celecbrates American art with a sale of significant historic works

January 20, 2024

Sotheby's
1334 York Avenue
t: (212) 606-7000
Visit Gallery Websites

For three days in January, Sotheby’s will host several auctions, events and experiences under the umbrella Visions of America. One significant sale is Art of America, taking place on January 20, featuring the “nation’s most historically celebrated artists” in over 60 paintings, drawings and sculpture.

Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827), George Washington, ca. 1795. Oil on canvas, 29 x 23¾ in. Estimate: $2/3 million

“From late 18th-century presidential portraiture to 19th-century Hudson River School paintings and 20th-century American illustration art, this various owner sale highlights the iconic figures and striking landscapes that have shaped the country,” notes Sotheby’s. “This sale will be offered alongside two distinguished single owner collections—the first featuring Hudson River School and traditional 19th-century paintings, and a second which showcases Western American masterpieces…”

Kayla Carlsen, Sotheby’s head of American Art, adds, “Art of America is the primary forum for historic American art and buyers look to it and Visions of America (formerly Americana Week) as a whole as the major event of the year. Collectors travel to New York to inspect the works in person and visit other purveyors of antiques during the singular time dedicated to art of the Americas.”

Winslow Homer (1836-1910), Looking Over the Cliff, 1882. Watercolor and graphite on paper, 21 x 14 in. Estimate: $1 million

The anticipated top lot in Art of America, with an estimated value of $2 to $3 million, is Charles Willson Peale’s (1741-1827) portrait of America’s first president. “This exceptionally rare portrait stems from [Peale’s] 1795 sitting with George Washington, which was the artist’s final session from life with the President and the only time that Washington sat for Peale during his presidency,” explain Sotheby’s representatives. “The original version from this sitting resides in the New York Historical Society’s permanent collection. The present work is one of three confirmed replicas in private hands, and it marks the first appearance at auction for a work from this group since 1954.”John F. Clymer (1907–1989), Heading for Rendezvous, 1978. Oil on Masonite, 10 x 20 in., signed ‘John Clymer’, inscribed ‘CAA’ and dated ‘© 1978’ lower right; signed and titled on the reverse. Estimate: $70/100,000

Also expected to achieve high numbers at the sale is the beautiful watercolor and graphite work Looking Over the Cliff, 1882, by Winslow Homer (1836-1910). With an estimate in the range of $1 million, the painting of two women standing on a cliff together, arms linked, is a grand example of the artist’s mastery of watercolor—his most famous of works from his time living in a seaside town in Maine.

With an estimate in the vicinity of $500,000, is a Fitz Henry Lane (1804-1865) painting titled Northwesterly View of Mount Desert Rocks, followed by the significant Thomas Worthington Whittredge’s (1820-1910) Indian Encampment Under Trees, circa 1870, with an estimate between $350,000 to $500,000. Some of the more Western lots include John F. Clymer’s (1907-1989) painting Heading for Rendezvous (est. $70/100,000).

Thomas Moran (1837-1926), Green River, Wyoming, 1883. Oil on canvas, 13¼ x 20 in., signed and daled lower right: ‘TMoran 1883’. Estimate: $1/1.5 million

Also held on the same day, is the Western Art and Design from Bar Cross Ranch, Wyoming sale. One of the highlights is an awe-inspiring Thomas Moran (1837-1926) titled Green River, Wyoming, 1883, expected to fetch a whopping $1 to $1.5 million.

Continuing the celebration on January 20, is the sale Americana: Furniture, Folk Art, Silver, Chinese Export Art, and Prints Part I. Erik Gronning, Sotheby’s head of Americana comments, “Visions of America at Sotheby’s New York is redefining how American furniture, decorative arts, folk art and outsider art is presented to auction, spanning the pilgrim century through to the 21st century. Sotheby’s is proud to highlight a unique collection of paintings from the outsider artist, Winfred Rembert (1945-2021), folk art sculpture from the Guennol Collection, formal Queen Anne, Chippendale and Federal furniture, Chinese export ceramics and colonial silver.”

Thomas Worthington Whittredge (1820-1910), Indian Encampment Under Trees, ca. 1870. Oil on board, 187/8 x 27½ in., signed lower left: ‘W Whittredge’. Estimate: $350/500,000

Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to add to your collection of historic American art and objects during Sotheby’s Visions of America, running January 20 through 23 at thier New York headquarters. The pre-sale exhibition runs from January 12 to 19, prior to all live and online sales.