Flying High

The Collection of Sidney Rothberg sale achieves nearly $5 million

Freeman’s | Hindman’s What Do You See? The Collection of Sidney Rothberg sale on February 27 and 28 saw excellent results, with hundreds of impressionist and modern artwork of the 19th and 20th century soaring far past their estimates. In total, 93 percent of the lots were sold during the two-day sale, which was held in esteemed collector Sidney Rothberg’s hometown of Philadelphia.

Fairfield Porter (1907-1975), Seascape. Pencil on paper, 19½ x 25½ in. Estimate: $6/10,000 SOLD: $41,275

John Kane (1860-1934), My Birthplace. Oil on canvas, 16 x 20 in. Estimate: $15/25,000 SOLD: $38,100

“Sid Rothberg had a unique perspective both on life and art that led to the creation of an incredibly eclectic and exciting collection,” says Alasdair Nichol, deputy chairman and director of fine art at Freeman’s | Hindman. “He took a deep dive into an artist’s oeuvre and was drawn to works that marked an inflection point in [their] creative development. His approach to collecting was characterized by an intellectual curiosity and a penchant for pivotal works rather than the ordinary.”

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919), Pierre Goujon en Costume Marin. Oil on canvas, 16¼ x 12¾ in. Estimate: $250/40,000 SOLD $330,200

Alexander Archipenko (1887-1964), Walking, Schreitende. Bronze, 165/8 x 7½ x 3½ in., base: 27/8 x 7 x 4¼ in. Estimate: $5/8,000 SOLD: $33,020

John Kane (1860-1934), Grandma at Fireside. Oil on canvas, 8 x 10 in. Estimate: $10/15,000 SOLD $38,100

Rothberg’s collection was incredibly diverse, representing artists from across the world. While quite a few French artists had stellar results in the sale—including Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s Pierre Goujon en Costume Marin, the top lot at $330,200—a number of American artists were among the most notable lots as well. Two works by John Kane, Grandma at Fireside and My Birthplace, both sold for $38,100. Fairfield Porter’s pencil on paper Seascape more than quadrupled its high estimate of $10,000 when it sold for $41,275. In addition, Lee Bontecou’s Untitled (est. $100/150,000) sold for $127,000; American/Greek artist Lucas Samaras’ Reconstruction #104 (est. $10/15,000) sold for $114,300; and Wayne Thiebaud’s River Canyon at Folsom (est. $15/25,000) reached $101,600. A bronze by American/Ukrainian artist Alexander Archipenko titled Walking, Schreitende sold for $33,020 against a presale estimate of $5,000 to $8,000.