On September 14, the Jackson Hole Art Auction will return to Jackson, Wyoming. The town, which sits practically in the shadow of the Grand Tetons, will be at the height of its annual fall celebration, the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival. With art events happening all around town, the auction will serve as one of the final events of the 12-day festival.
Théodore-Charles Gruyère (1813-1885), Seated Indian, 1845, marble, 43¼ x 28 x 35 in. Estimate: $400/600,000
The sale is widely known for its stunning selections from the wildlife genre, and this year will be no exception. “Wildlife is a perennial favorite at the Jackson Hole Art Auction, and that is certainly the case this year,” says Kevin Doyle, partner with the Wyoming auction house. “There is a lot of great material on the market and we’re feeling very confident in our sale. We’ve had great consignors to work with, and we follow that old adage that if the estimate is set properly it will always get the best value for the seller.”
Doyle says the sale will feature around 340 lots, with many categories represented, including cowboy and cattle, Old West scenes with historic subjects and Natives Americans, Western still life, figurative, wildlife and landscapes, including those popular views of the Grand Tetons.
Ansel Adams (1902-1984), The Tetons and the Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, 1942, gelatin silver print, printed 1970s, 15 x 18¾ in. Estimate: $100/150,000
“Two exceptional examples of the Tetons are works by Ansel Adams and Conrad Schwiering. What’s special about these pieces is that they were conceived at almost the same vantage point,” says Doyle. “The Adams photograph was taken in 1942, while the Schwiering painting originates in 1962. You can see from each of the works that the view is identical. The Adams image is very special because it came out of the Elton John collection after it was sold a number of years ago. Elton John has a great eye and this print is really top-notch in quality. [Photographer] Harrison Crandall took Adams to that spot and [Adams] later developed the image in Crandall’s house in Moose, Wyoming, which adds to some of its great story.” The Adams image is estimated at $100,000 to $150,000, while the Schwiering is estimated at $30,000 to $50,000.
Carl Rungius (1869-1959), The Challenge, oil on canvas, 303/8 x 463/8 in. Estimate: $250/350,000
Historic wildlife art will be represented by Carl Rungius’ The Challenge (est. $250/350,000), which will be included in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné on the artist.
One important highlight that will be new for many collectors is Théodore-Charles Gruyère’s Seated Indian, a marble work from 1845. Estimated at $400,000 to $600,000 and nearly lifesized, the piece is an exceptional example from the French sculptor.
“When I started my career at Sotheby’s in July of 2000, this sculpture sold in the American art auction that November. When it was sold, the winning bidders had it shipped to the Whitney Western Art Museum, where it remained on loan from 2001 to 2006, and then it went to their home where it sat for the last 18 years,” Doyle says. “It’s a museum-quality piece and it’s exquisite. The more time you spend in front of it the more impressive it gets. And I’m so excited to see it again after all these years.”
Henry Shrady (1871-1922), Bull Moose, 1900. Bronze, 197/8 x 17½ x 11 in. Estimate: $60/90,000
This year’s sale will not be split into two sessions, so all lots will be available on September 14 at Jackson Hole’s Center for the Arts. Bidding will be held live, with online bidding available through the Jackson Hole Art Auction’s own bidding platform as well as Invaluable and LiveAuctioneers.
Powered by Froala Editor
