Frequently elevated to the same levels as wildlife masters Carl Rungius and Bruno Liljefors, painter Bob Kuhn has become a vital artist to collectors of animal art and his prices are proof. On November 8, during an online sale by Coeur D’Alene Art Auction, Kuhn not only had the top lot, but also the top three.
Bob Kuhn (1920-2007), African Baroque, 1975. Acrylic on board, 30 x 30 in. Estimate: $50/75,000 SOLD: $266,200
Leading the charge was African Baroque selling for $266,000, more than tripling the high estimate of $75,000. Behind it was Elephant in Papyrus (est. $60/90,000) that sold for $108,000 and Cape Buffalo (est. $40/60,000) that sold for $90,000. Although Kuhn is most widely known for his mammals from North America, his African subject matter is also highly desirable by top wildlife collectors. Many of the works came from the Fausto Yturria collection, who had an astute eye for animal art.
Eanger Irving Couse (1866-1936), Pueblo Firelight – Roasting Corn, 1924. Oil on board, 8 x 10 in. Estimate: $30/50,000 SOLD: $66,550
Another highlight from the sale was Eanger Irving Couse’s Pueblo Firelight – Roasting Corn, which sold for $65,000, clearing the $50,000 high estimate with room to spare. Other noteworthy lots came from John Fery, Sydney Laurence, and Edgar S. Paxson, whose Indian Woman with Colored Blanket sold for $60,000, more than doubling its high estimate of $25,000.
Coeur d’Alene Art Auction next turns its attention to the July 2026 live sale in Reno, Nevada. —
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