Linda Bean (1941-2025), granddaughter of the founder of retailer L.L. Bean and the company’s heiress, was an avid art collector, particularly of paintings by the Wyeth family, whose ties to Maine resonated with Bean, a lifelong resident of the state. In November 2024, a collection of Wyeth paintings in her estate sold for a combined $1.7 million in a Bonhams’ American art sale.
Andrew Newell Wyeth (1917-2009), Gone Ashore. Watercolor on paper, 17½ x 23½ in., signed lower left. Estimate: $ 400/500,000
This August, Maine-based Thomaston Place Auction Galleries will offer up 1,500 lots, including another collection of historic fine art from Bean’s estate in its Summer Grandeur sale, including three masterful original pieces by Andrew Wyeth, as well as a number of works by William Thon, Abraham Jacob and Dahlov Ipcar. Also from Bean’s estate is what Jennifer Langley, a Thomaston Place representative, calls “a rare collection of the finest selection of Maine-maker tall clocks we have ever seen.” Pieces from the Brooke Astor Estate Collection will also be represented in the sale, including fine art, furniture and decorative items.
“For more than two centuries, artists have come to Maine to live and work, often inspired by the rugged coastlines and the state’s endless natural beauty,” notes Thomaston Place staff. “In celebration of this rich artistic legacy the Summer Grandeur Auction unveils a rare opportunity to discover fine art collected over the years by those who live in Maine or have strong ties to the state, the upcoming feature auction offers a never-before-seen opportunity to experience the hidden treasures of private collections from rarely displayed for public view.”
Everett Shinn (1876-1953), It Still Remains Whimsically Individual and Village Like. Pastel and gouache on paper, 20½ x 28½ in., signed lower center and dated ’99. Estimate: $80/100,000
William Thon (1906-2000), A Cold Sun. Oil on board, 24 x 36 in.Estimate: $10/20,000
The auction house continues, “Beyond a formidable collection that reflected a love for the Maine landscape painting, in addition, the sale features the world’s largest known collection of Maine-made tall clocks—highlighting the depth and cultural significance of Bean’s legacy as both a collector and a commitment to preserving and elevating regional American craftsmanship—alongside outstanding examples of American furniture, folk art and design.”
In addition to Andrew Wyeth’s Gone Ashore which has a low estimate of $400,000, the Thomaston Place team is particularly curious to see how a special piece by Everett Shinn (1876-1953) performs, as it is the first time the auction house has ever had an original painting by him on offer, and the artist has historically garnered a lot of interest among New York collectors. The urban scene, It Still Remains Whimsically Individual and Village Like is expected to achieve between $80,000 and $100,000.
Abraham Jacob Bogdanove (1888-1946), Sunset on Lobster Cove. Oil on canvas, 30 x 36 in., signed lower right.. Estimate: $10/15,000
“We have high hopes for the Summer Grandeur auction and expect all these pieces to draw attention far and wide and realize impressive numbers at the auction block,” auction house representatives share. “[This sale] represents a unique moment, as a celebration of Maine’s place in American art history, and a once-in-a-generation chance to acquire works that rarely emerge from behind the walls of New England’s private collections.”
A preview of Summer Grandeur will take place August 16 through 28, with the sale taking place August 29 through 31, beginning at 11 a.m. EST each day. —
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