(Stamford, Conn.) – A treasure trove of more than 350 pieces of fine art will be sold in two sessions on Saturday, April 12, at the Holiday Inn off exit 8 of Interstate 95 in Stamford. Session One, beginning at 10:30 a.m., will feature Russian, Old Master and European works. Session Two, starting 1:30 p.m., will comprise American and Contemporary Art. A preview will be held on Friday, April 11.
“This could well be the best sale I’ve ever held,” said Steve Gass of Trinity International Auctions, the Avon, Conn.-based firm conducting the auction. “I’ve secured a significant group of major Russian pieces, some very desirable European art and some strong Old Masters works. With a weak dollar, this is an opportunity for foreign buyers to repatriate works back to their native countries.”
The centerpiece of the sale promises to be a beautiful oil-on-canvas painting by the Boston Impressionist Dennis Miller Bunker (1861-1890), titled “Portrait of a Woman.” It is expected to bring $30,000-$50,000. “Dennis Bunker died at a very young age – just 29 – so he didn’t leave behind a vast body of work,” Mr. Gass said.. “It’s rare when a painting of his becomes available at public auction.”
Russian art is a burgeoning genre, thanks to a strong Russian economy and an emerging class of serious collectors there. Certain to wow the crowd is an oil-on-canvas by David Burliuk (1882-1967), titled “Lake Scene With Flowers and Sea Shells” (est. $30,000-$50,000). Also to be sold will be an oil-on-canvas attributed to Konstantin Ivanovic Gorbatov (1876-1945), titled “Boats Approaching the Shore” (est. $12,000-$15,000).
Additional Russian offerings will include an 1882 oil-on-canvas attributed to Genrich Semiradsky (Polish-Russian,1843-1902), titled “Roma” (est. $15,000-$25,000); an oil-on-canvas by Nikolai Feshin (Russian-American, 1881-1955), titled “Farm Yard in the Snow” (est. $20,000-$30,000); and an oil painting attributed to Ivan Aviovsky (1817-1900), titled “Ships on a Choppy Sea” (est. $15,000-$25,000).
The star of the Old Masters category is an oil-on-panel work by Pieter Neefs the Elder (Flemish, ca. 1578-1659), titled “Salomon’s Temple, Jerusalem.” Executed in 1615, the 30” x 41” work carries an estimate of $25,000-$50,000.
Another piece that is sure to draw attention is an unsigned, late 16th century oil-on-canvas depiction of St. Catherine and St. John the Baptist (est. $10,000-$20,000).
Two other Old Masters paintings, both by Dutch painters, are worth noting. The first is a marvelous oil-on-panel work by Jacob Willemsz de Wet (1610-1672), titled “Clemency of Scipio.” Executed around 1635, it is expected to sell for $12,000-$15,000. The other is an oil-on-canvas by Richard Brakenburgh (1650-1702), titled “Merry Company.” It carries an estimate of $6,000-$8,000.
European highlights will include a gouache piece done in 1961 by Henry Moore (British, 1898-1986), titled “Study For a Reclining Nude” (est. $8,000-$12,000); and an oil-on-board work by Franz Xavier Pieler (Austrian, 1876-1952), titled “Still Life With Flowers” (est. $5,000-$7,000).
Italian works have been receiving great attention in the auction world as of late, and two pieces in this sale deserve special mention. One is the 1960 oil-on-canvas painting “La Maitre Coordonnateur,” by Gianni Frassati (born 1924). It is estimated at $2,000-$3,000. The other is an oil-on-canvas painting by Fabio Fabbi (1861-1946), titled “Harlem Scene” (est. $5,000-$7,000).
Works by noted and listed American artists will be served up in abundance. Expected top lots will include an oil-on-canvas by Louis Betts (1873-1961), titled “Andalusian Girl” (est. $20,000-$30,000); and an oil-on-canvas by Helena Maria Turner (1858-1958), titled “Hudson Valley Vista” (est. $15,000-$25,000), noteworthy because female American artists are in great demand right now.
A lovely watercolor by John Marin (1870-1953), titled “Stonington, Maine” (1931), has an estimate of $10,000-$15,000.
“The Slope,” an oil-on-Masonite work by Eric Sloane (1905-1985), should rise to $20,000-$25,000; and an oil-on-canvas rendering of the Queensboro Bridge in New York City by the much-collected painter Johann Berthelsen (1883-1972) has an estimate of $16,000-$24,000.
Contemporary Russian works are currently in high demand and this auction will feature many sought-after artists. Premier offerings include an untitled oil-on-canvas by Evgeny Rukhin (1943-1976, est. $40,000-$60,000); an oil-on-canvas rendering by Vasiliy Sitnikov (1915), titled “Nude, 1985” (est. $25,000-$35,000); and a mixed-media-on-cardboard work by Leonid Sokov (b. 1941), titled “Russian Bear” (est. $12,000-$18,000).
American contemporary art has been a rising star at recent auctions. This sale has a broad selection of works by noted American artists. Included are an acrylic-on-paper by Kenneth Noland (b. 1924), titled “Geometric Shapes” (est. $15,000-$25,000); a 1948 bronze sculpture by the Lithuanian-American artist Jacques Lipschitz (1891-1973), titled “Study For Hagar, No. 2” (est. $8,000-$12,000); plus works by Eugene Berman (1899-1972); Benjamin Kopman (1887-1965); Grace G. Swank (1892-1977); and Irving G. Lehman (1900-1983).
The sale will also include eleven works by the American artist Rolph Scarlett (1889-1984). “In my last sale, I had five pieces by Scarlett and they all sailed past their high estimates,” Mr. Gass said. “He represents hard-edged, Contemporary American artwork and was one of three major artists The Guggenheim Museum invested in heavily when it was first founded. Since then, he’s taken off.”
Two of the Rolph Scarlett pieces expected to do well include a 14” x 16” gouache work signed lower left and simply titled “Geometric” (est. $6,000-$8,000); and a 40” x 46” oil-on-canvas painting titled “Stained Glass Window,” signed lower right ($12,000-$15,000).
These and all the works in the sale may be viewed by going to the Trinity International Auctions website: www.tiauctions.com.
Works by earlier American artists will include an oil-on-canvas by James Hamilton (1819-1878), titled “New York Harbor at Sunset” (est. $12,000-$16,000); an oil-on-canvas by Johann M. Culverhouse (1820-1891), titled “The Art Lesson” (est. $12,000-$16,000); an oil-on-canvas by William H. Howe, America’s premier cow painter (1846-1929), titled “Cattle Grazing in a Fall Landscape” (est. $10,000-$15,000); an oil-on-board by William S. Haseltine (1835-1900), titled “The Natural Bridge, Capri” (est. $8,000-$12,000); and an oil-on-board by George Clough (1824-1901), titled “High Bridge, Bronx, New York” (est. $7,000-$10,000).
A bronze sculpture by American artist Albert Wein (1915-1991), titled “Lotus Blossom” (est. $9,000-$12,000), is noteworthy because Wein’s works are beginning to command great attention among collectors. Also, the lone Indian offering in the sale – a gouache work by S. Krishna titled “Woman With the Red Mirror” — is also expected to do well, as Indian artwork surges as a genre.
Trinity International Auctions & Appraisals, LLC, specializes in fine American and European paintings, prints and sculptures. Their auctions feature works ranging from Old Masters paintings to Contemporary works by artists with solid auction track records. The firm works with collectors to buy and sell fine art. Services include art appraisals; private sales; and estate liquidations.
Trinity International Auctions & Appraisals, LLC, is always accepting quality fine art consignments for future sales. To consign a single piece, a collection or an estate, you may call them directly, toll-free, at (888) TRIN-555, or (860) 677-9996. The e-mail address is [email protected]. For more information about the company and their upcoming auction, log on to www.tiauctions.com.