Sotheby’s January 24 Art of the Americas sale, held during the auction house’s Visions of America series of sales, met exceptional numbers—surpassing estimates and achieving $5 million, at an 85-percent sell-through rate. The sale featured around 50 lots of Hudson River School masterworks, trompe l’oeil paintings, early American portraiture and more.
Martin Johnson Heade (1819-1904), Sun Gems, ca. 1863-65. Oil on canvas, 121⁄8 x 101⁄8 in. ESTIMATE: $120/180,000 SOLD: $698,500
“The current American market presents wonderful opportunities to both established collectors and those entering the market,” shares Stefany Morris, Sotheby’s head of American art. “We were pleased to see strong bidding at all price points across the Art of the Americas and The American West auctions. Clients responded enthusiastically to our conservative pre-sale estimates, pulling back in historic clients who have sat out in recent years, and attracting several new buyers to the category who recognize the value in historic American art, and see it as an opportunity. In fact, new buyers represented over 30 percent of buyers across the two sales which is by far the highest percentage over the existence of the sale series.”
Among the many stellar lots for Art of the Americas, Martin Johnson Heade’s (1819-1904) painting Sun Gems, circa 1863-65, rose above the rest, soaring over its estimate of $120,000 to $180,00, achieving $698,500.
Anna Mary Robertson (Grandma) Moses (1860-1961), Over the River to Grandma’s House, 1944. Oil on Masonite, 34 x 45 in. ESTIMATE: $300/500,000 SOLD: $624,400
“We were thrilled, although not surprised, to see such a strong response to Sun Gems,” says Morris. “Heade’s hummingbird paintings are among the most sought-after works in his oeuvre, and this example has everything collectors hope for: fresh color, remarkable detail and that wonderful sense of discovery tied to his travels in Brazil. It feels both intimate and adventurous, and the result really speaks to how much appetite there is today for distinctive, story-rich works of 19th-century American art.”
The next highest sale was for Over the River to Grandma’s House, 1944, by Anna Mary Robertson (Grandma) Moses (1860-1961). The piece sold for $624,440, exceeding its estimate of $300,00 to $500,000.
Joshua Johnson (ca. 1763-1825), Lady on a Red Sofa, 1820-25. Oil on canvas, 301⁄8 x 253⁄8 in. ESTIMATE: $80/120,000 SOLD: $508,000
“The result for [this painting] really speaks to the enduring appeal of Grandma Moses at her very best,” Morris adds. “This is a classic, fully realized winter landscape from a pivotal moment in her career, with the scale, storytelling, and warmth that collectors and institutions alike respond to immediately. Seeing it exceed expectations, and ultimately join a prestigious American museum, feels especially fitting—it’s exactly the kind of iconic, deeply American picture that deserves to be shared with the public.”
Morris also notes that one standout moment in the sale was for Joshua Johnson’s (ca. 1763-1825) Lady on a Red Sofa, 1820-25. “It was incredibly exciting to see the painting soar well past its estimate of [$80,000 to $120,000 to achieve $508,000], and find a home with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, underscoring the strength of institutional interest in early American portraiture,” says Morris. “Moments like this really highlight the robust health of the market for narrative-rich American art.”
Charles Peale Polk (1767-1822), George Washington at Princeton, 1790-93. Oil on canvas, 36 x 27¾ in. ESTIMATE: $400/600,000 SOLD: $609,600
Additional highlights include George Washington at Princeton, by Charles Peale Polk, circa 1790-93, selling for $609,600 (est. $400/600,000); The Puritan, by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, selling for $355,600 (est. $150/250,000); and View on the Hudson, by George Inness, selling for $139,700 (est. $80/120,000). —
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