Marsden Hartley was a big highlight of Bonhams’ May 1 American Art auction, when his 1923 painting New Mexico Recollection No. 8 sold for $1,143,500, nearly tripling its low estimate of $400,000.
Marsden Hartley (1877-1943), New Mexico Recollection No. 8, 1923. Oil on canvas, 233/8 x 4½ in. Estimate: $400/600,000 SOLD: $1,143,500
Executed entirely from memory, it is part of a body of work consisting of roughly 20 large and small landscape paintings that have since become known collectively as the New Mexico Recollection series. “The Hartley is a really stunning example of his work,” says Bonhams’ head of American art, Morgan Michael Martin. “It greatly invokes the power and dynamism of the American West, particularly how the storms roll in and the rain falls in sheets across the plateaus.” The piece was in fairly fine condition, rare for such a large work by Hartley and quite a few collectors were interested. “By the afternoon of the sale, we had extensive bidding from multiple channels, including absentees, phone lines and even a few folks bidding live in the room,” says Martin. “The two lots proceeding it had a great deal of interest as well, with protracted bidding wars taking place, so the energy in the room was already quite electric and reverberated in the bidding.”
Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009), Knapsack, 1978, 213/8 x 297/8 in. Estimate: $250/350,000 SOLD: $318,000
Paul Sample (1896-1974), North Broadway Neighborhood, 36¼ x 40¼ in. Estimate: $20/30,000 SOLD: $241,800
The price the Hartley achieved wasn’t the only surprise of the sale. Martin continues, “When the Paul Sample, North Broadway Neighborhood, first came across my desk, I knew it was going to do well though was quite shocked when it ended up being sold for over 12 times the low estimate and setting a new record for the artist. For Pink Light on the Sea by Wolf Kahn, we were worried that placing such a high pre-sale estimate would deter bidders, which to my delight was proven unfounded and the work smashed the previous artist record by over $85,000.”
Thomas Moran (1837-1926), Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, 1915. Oil on canvas, 301/8 x 40¼ in. Estimate: $150/250,000 SOLD: $171,950
Martin concedes that overall results of the sale were mixed, but still indicates a healthy market for 19th and early 20th century works. “Our Hudson River School, Luminist and Maritime sections had robust and deep bidding, which gives me more confidence in the state of the market, despite some lackluster results from earlier in the year,” adds Martin. “The Bradford and Silva achieved double the low and the Gilbert Stuart went for triple the low estimate, showing a confidence in buyers that go for works they love.”
Top 10 LOTS
American Art, May 1, 2024 (including buyer’s premiums)
Artist | Title | Low/High ESt. | SOLD
Marsden Hartley | New Mexico Recollection No. 8 | $400/600,000 | $1,143,500
Andrew Wyeth | Knapsack | $250/350,000 | $318,000
Wolf Kahn | Pink Light on the Sea | $80/$120,000 | $298,950
Paul Sample | North Broadway Neighborhood | $20/30,000 | $241,000
Thomas Moran | Santa Maria della Salute, Venice | $150/250,000 | $171,951
William Bradford | Fresh Breeze off Sandy Hook | $60/80,000 | $146,550
Anna Mary Robertson “Grandma Moses” | The Old Oaken Bucket | $80/120,000 | $127,500
Marsden Hartley | Green and Purple Grapes in a Basket | $100/150,000 | $121,150
Richard Edward Miller | The Blue Beads | $60/80,000 | $114,800
Mario Sanchez | Key West’s Great Imitator | $25/35,000 | $76,700
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