Significant Interest

The California & Western Art sale at Bonhams this November saw respectable results

Bonhams’ recent California & Western Art sale—featuring selections from the Los Angeles Athletic Club—achieved significant success with $3.27 million in total sales and 83 percent of lots sold. A total of 125 lots were on offer during the November 11 sale, including three Bob Ross pieces that earned a combined total of $661,900.

Granville Redmond (1871-1935), California. Oil on canvas, 40½ x 80¼ in., signed and dated lower right: ‘Granville Redmond/1907’. Estimate: $300/500,000 SOLD: $330,700

Arthur Grover Rider (1886-1975), Against the Light. Oil on Belgian linen, 25 x 25 in., signed lower right: ‘A.G. Rider’. Estimate: $100/150,000 SOLD: $159,250

“This sale was led by a capsule of works from the Los Angeles Athletic Club and three works by Bob Ross that were being sold to benefit public television,” says Megan E. Gallagher, associate specialist at Bonhams. “Together these two collections brought in additional interest beyond our normal scope with registrations nearly doubled from our standard participation.”

The three Ross paintings in question include Winter’s Peace, which achieved $318,000; Home in the Valley, selling for $229,100; and Cliffside, which reached $114,800. All three paintings had estimates between $25,000 to $50,000.

Armin Hansen (1886-1957), Crossing the Bar, ca. 1918. Oil on board, 26 x 38 in., signed lower left: ‘Armin Hansen’ and signed again, titled and inscribed ‘MONTEREY / CAL.’ on a handwritten artist’s label (affixed to the reverse). Estimate: $300/500,000 SOLD: $318,000

G. Harvey (1933-2017), Line Camp Buddies, 1990. Oil on canvas, 35¾ x 29½ in., signed lower right: ‘G. Harvey - / ©’; signed, dated and titled (on verso), and titled again (on stretcher). Estimate: $25/35,000 SOLD: $102,100

Among the other major highlights in the fall sale were Granville Redmond’s 1871 oil California, an expansive landscape in warm evening light, rendered in the artist’s painterly, impressionist hand. The piece bested its $300,000 estimate when it sold for $330,700. A dynamic ocean scene painted by Armin Hansen in 1918, Crossing the Bar achieved $318,000 against a $300,000 low estimate. A Wyoming Night Herder, a nocturne of a cowboy on horseback by Frank Tenney Johnson, reached $152,900 against a presale estimate of $120,000 to $180,000; and Arthur Grover Rider’s marine scene Against the Light bested its $100,000 to $150,000 estimate when it sold for $159,250.

Especially noteworthy was a winter scene painted by G. Harvey titled Line Camp Buddies, featuring three horses (two with accompanying riders), making their way up a snowy hill in the mountains. Painted in 1990, the piece sold for $102,100, shattering its $35,000 high estimate. —

Top 10 LOTS
California & Western Art, November 11, 2025 (including buyer’s premiums)
Artist Title Low/High ESt. SOLD
Granville Redmond California $300/500,000 $330,700
Armin Hansen Crossing the Bar $300/500,000 $318,000
Bob Ross Winter’s Peace $30/50,000 $318,000
Bob Ross Home in the Valley $30/50,000 $229,100
Arthur Grover Rider Against the Light $100/150,000 $159,250
Frank Tenney Johnson A Wyoming Night Herder $120/180,000 $152,900
Bob Ross Cliffside $25/45,000 $114,800
G. Harvey Line Camp Buddies $25/35,000 $102,100
Maynard Dixon Point of Rocks $60/90,000 $70,350
Frank Coburn Rainy Night (Pershing Square) $40/60,000 $61,440