Tightly Curated

Heritage Auction’s November American art sale realizes more than $4 million

On November 17, Heritage Auctions presented Views and Visions: Important Works by American Masters Signature Auction, its new American art sale in Dallas. The carefully curated sale brought in more than $4 million, with several noteworthy highlights that show a strong market for American art.

N.C. Wyeth (1882-1945), Good-bye, Mistress Friendly-Soul!, The Witch, book frontispiece illustration, 1914. Oil on canvas, 44 x 31¾ in. Estimate: $250/350,000 SOLD: $567,000

Two of the top lots came from Golden Age illustrators known for exceptional work in the first half of the 20th century, N.C. Wyeth and J.C Leyendecker. The Wyeth piece, Good-bye, Mistress Friendly-Soul!, was originally used as the frontispiece illustration for Mary Johnston’s 1914 book The Witch. After sustained and energetic bidding, the piece closed at $567,000. The Leyendecker, Red Cross Letter, was used in a 1914 edition of the Saturday Evening Post. It sold for $162,000, just over its $150,000 high estimate. (Heritage has the world auction record for Leyendecker, $4.1 million, set in 2021.)

Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902), Evening, Owens Lake, California, ca. 1870s. Oil on paper laid on canvas, 13¾ x 19 in. Estimate: $150/250,000 SOLD: $212,500

“Our classic Golden Age illustrations exceeded expectations, with select lots achieving a remarkable 10 times their presale estimates,” says Aviva Lehmann, Heritage’s senior vice president of American art. “These outcomes continue to highlight the insatiable demand within the collector community for top-tier illustrations in every category—and Heritage remains their trusted destination to satisfy that demand.”

Ernie Barnes (1873-1955), Grooms at Work. Acrylic and oil on canvas, 23¾ x 48 in. Estimate: $30/50,000 SOLD: $193,750In the sculpture category, Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ 1897 head study for Hettie Anderson sold for $200,000, more than triple the $60,000 high estimate. The face is modeled after the artist’s favorite model, Harriette (Hettie) Eugenia Anderson. The study was his first attempt at the head of Victory, the Greek goddess Nike, for the Sherman Memorial at the entrance to New York’s Central Park.

Other artists that performed well include Albert Bierstadt, George Tooker, Ernie Barnes, John Clymer, Birger Sandzén, William Bradford, George Bellows, Fairfield Porter and Maxfield Parrish.

J.C. Leyendecker (1874-1951), Red Cross Letter, The Saturday Evening Post, 1914. Oil on canvas, 30 x 21 in. Estimate: $100/150,000 SOLD: $162,500

“The auction featured museum-quality offerings across the spectrum, drawing attention from both the collecting community and esteemed institutions alike,” says Lehmann. “Our catalog generated immense enthusiasm and garnered praise from collectors, consignors, dealers, advisors and museums, who join us in celebrating American art as a cornerstone of our country’s history and culture.”