Commanding Attention

Shannon’s Fine Art Online Sale saw great success across a variety of genres

By Alyssa Tidwell

This past June, Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers held its summer Fine Art Online Sale, offering collectors a leisurely and convenient way to explore a significant swath of American fine art from the comfort of their own homes. The auction featured historic artists like Guy Pène du Bois, Emile Albert Gruppe, Alfred Thompson Bricher and more.

Frederic Porter Vinton (1846-1911), The Bridge at Grez. Oil on canvas, 32 x 25¾ in., signed lower right: ‘Frederic P Vinton,’ titled on a fragment from an old stretcher. Estimate: $1.5/$2,500 SOLD: $17,780

A new record high auction price for Frederic Porter Vinton was established with the sale of his oil on canvas The Bridge at Grez, a classic scene that many impressionist artists painted when visiting the area. “Vinton worked primarily as a portrait painter but took several trips to Europe, including a trip with William Merritt Chase and Robert Blum,” the auction house notes. The painting sold for $17,780 against a presale estimate of $1,500 to $2,500.

Also featured in the sale were three important Robert Edward Weaver paintings: Hammer Man, Steeplechase and Skipping the Garland. “Weaver is associated with American regionalism in the spirit of Thomas Hart Benton, John Steuart Curry and Grant Wood,” Shannon’s notes. “He is best known for his circus subjects, as featured in this recent auction. Weaver exhibited alongside Reginald Marsh, Paul Cadmus and other notable artists of his time.”

Benny Andrews (1930-2006), Dancing Duet (Pictures for Miss Josie Series), 2002. Collage on canvas on card, 25½ x 15 in., signed and dated lower right: ‘Benny Andrews / 2002’, titled, dated and inscribed on verso. Estimate: $2.5/$3,500 SOLD: $19,050

A bold and colorful scene of two figures dancing, by African-American artist, activist and educator Benny Andrews, also attracted substantial attention during the summer sale. The piece—a collage of layered fabrics and paint, which sold for $19,050 against an estimate of $2,500 to $3,500—captured the spontaneity and joy of a couple in their living room. “It is a heartwarming portrait that achieved a significant price given its relatively small size,” the auction house adds.