On January 24, Sotheby’s will ring in the new year with two American art auctions celebrating many prominent artists of the late-18th to early-20th century as part of their annual Visions of America series of sales. Art of the Americas will feature roughly 50 lots that include Hudson River School masterworks, trompe l’oeil paintings, early American portraiture and more, with examples by Thomas Cole, Winslow Homer, Martin Johnson Heade, and others. Art of the Americas will be followed by The American West sale, headlined by major landscapes by Albert Bierstadt, an iconic Norman Rockwell cowboy subject, and fresh-to-market drawings by Frederic Remington.
Charles Peale Polk (1767-1822), George Washington at Princeton, ca. 1790-93. Oil on canvas, 35½ x 27 in. Estimate: $400/600,000
Charles Peale Polk’s George Washington at Princeton (est. $400/600,000) is expected to garner quite a bit of interest as we enter 2026, the 250th anniversary of the United States. In response to popular demand, Polk painted roughly 60 portraits of Washington during the early years of his presidency. “In this version…Washington appears at the height of his military service as commander-in-chief, his blue-and-buff uniform updated with the three-star epaulet introduced in 1780 to signify his rank,” explains Sotheby’s head of American art, Stefany Morris. “Polk’s portraits of Washington reveal the development of his independent artistic style and represent a uniquely personal contribution to early presidential portraiture.”
Winslow Homer (1836-1910), Fodder, 1887. Watercolor and pencil on paper, 133/8 x 19¾ in. Estimate: $400/600,000
Other highlights of the Art of the Americas include Thomas Cole’s Italian Scene (est. $100/150,000), a picture of a figure amidst a rocky landscape over looking a hazy valley; Fodder, a farm scene by Winslow Homer in watercolor and pencil with a low estimate of $400,000; Sun Gems, a hummingbird painting by Martin Johnson Heade; and Grandma Moses’ Belvedere in Shenandoah Valley.
Thomas Cole (1801-1848), Italian Scene. Oil on canvas, 10 x 14 in. Estimate: $100/150,000
Morris is also excited about Samuel Colman’s watercolor Solomon Temple, Colorado (est. $150/$250,000) which captures the dramatic grandeur of a summit in the Grand Canyon. She says, “A founding member of the American Watercolor Society, Colman demonstrates his consummate command of the medium in this work, where crystalline light, sculpted geological forms, and delicately layered washes reveal both his technical virtuosity and his deep sensitivity to the American landscape. The painting is a superb example of Colman’s ability to merge topographical accuracy with an elevated, almost spiritual sense of place.
Martin Johnson Heade (1819-1904), Sun Gems, ca. 1864-65. Oil on canvas, 121/8 x 101/8 in. Estimate: $120/180,000
“For the last two years, Sotheby’s has hosted the Visions of America sale series,” continues Morris. “This series celebrates American art and craftsmanship, and is rich with auctions, events and experiences to attract and engage the most important buyers of American art and objects. Our January 2026 iteration…will commemorate America’s 250th anniversary by celebrating the artistic contributions that shape our nation’s cultural identity—from the visionaries who established our artistic foundations to today’s creators who are redefining American art, craftsmanship and patronage.”
Visions of America will also feature sales of American decorative and folk art, silver and whiskey. Visit the Sotheby’s website for details and updates. —
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