On May 20th, international fine art auctioneers Bonhams will present a highly anticipated sale of 19th and 20th Century American paintings in New York City. With more than 100 lots on the block, including a Wyeth portrait of Andy Warhol, works by Richard E. Miller, and works of many acclaimed artists, the upcoming auction is expected to draw collectors’ attention.
A major highlight of the sale will be four works from the family of renowned American impressionist Richard E. Miller. Miller is considered one of the significant members from the third generation of American expatriate painters who made the pilgrimage to Giverny, painting in the artist colony made famous by Monet. Miller based his life and career in France from 1898 until his return to the US at the start of World War I. His work has been included in the collections of the most prestigious of institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Paris Musee d’Art Moderne.
Originally from the estate of the artist, the pieces to be offered at Bonhams on May 20th were previously on loan to the St. Louis Art Museum — St. Louis being Miller’s hometown. At auction are a portrait of a seated lady with red hair (est. $300/500,000); a 34×36-inch seated nude (est. $125/175,000); a summer landscape (est. $40/60,000); and another landscape of a cotton silk tree (est. $15/25,000).
Additionally, a lovely group of New York City scenes present views by artists Guy Wiggins, Johanne Berthelsen, and Arthur Clifton Goodwin. Included in the works of both Wiggins and Berthelsen are scenes of Wall Street along with two views of Washington Square Park by Goodwin. Wiggins’ depiction of the Financial District is estimated at $30/50,000; the 16 x 12in pieces by Berthelsen featuring Wall Street are each estimated at $6/8,000; and Goodwin’s oil on canvas and pastel of the arch at Washington Square Park are estimated at $15/20,000 and $6/8,000, respectively.
Also expected to cause a stir amongst bidders are two 20th century works: Jamie Wyeth’s portrait of Andy Warhol in pencil, gouache, and watercolor (est. $20/30,000) and a 1977 landscape by Wolf Kahn, titled, dated and numbered “61” on the reverse (est. $12/16,000).
Of interest to marine collectors is a rare large canvas by the Boston artist Joseph Pierre depicting shipping off an East Asian coastal port, most probably Jakarta, the painting is estimated at $100/150,000.
Specialists also expect two oil sketches by Albert Bierstadt to spark serious bidding: an oil on paper laid to canvas (est. $50/70,000) and an oil on card (est.$20/30,000).
The sale will be held in Bonhams New York’s newly appointed galleries at 580 Madison Avenue, which afford the ability to exhibit the works in a museum-like setting. As American Paintings Dept. Director Alan Fausel points out, “Having the opportunity to display this strong selection of work in such an appropriate setting is a cause for excitement and leads me to expect the best for the sale.”
Previews will begin at Bonhams on May 16, continuing daily until the 19th. The auction on May 21 begins at 1pm EST. The sale’s illustrated catalog will be online for review and purchase at www.bonhams.com/us