A vibrant oil on canvas of “Wind Swept Pines” on the California Coast by Guy Rose took the top lot spot in Bonhams $2.47 million auction of California and Western Paintings and Sculpture, August 6 in Los Angeles, simulcast in San Francisco. The painting achieved far more than its $150,000-250,000 estimate, bringing $374,500.
Works by Selden Connor Gile and William Wendt also realized multiple successes. Gile’s “Wagon team and barn,” the largest work by Gile to be offered at public auction since 2006, took the second to top lot spot, bringing $110,500, while his “Lucas Valley,” also did well, bringing $56,250. Wendt’s “Camp in the mountains, 1928” brought $74,500, past a $50,000-70,000 estimate, and his “Claremont Oaks,” took in $56,250.
Additional notable works in the auction included Frederic Remington’s bronze “The Cheyenne,” which sold for $80,500; Marion Kavanagh Wachtel’s “Mount Whitney,” which brought $68,500; and Edgar Payne’s “Canyon Mission Viejo, Capistrano,” which took in $68,500, past an estimate of $35,000-55,000.
Scot Levitt, Vice President and Fine Arts Department Director at Bonhams, says of the auction: “Bidding came for works in all areas of the market, from early to more modern. Several new buyers have appeared on to the market. This helped generate more depth in the bidding pool. Rather than one bidder, multiple parties competed for many of the lots, especially in the high end of the range. Underbidders went on to scoop up many of the later lots as their funds remained intact further into the auction. Considering that we host three California and Western auctions each year, there appear to be plenty of interested buyers.”
The next Bonhams auction of California and Western Paintings and Sculpture will take place November 25. The illustrated auction catalog for the sale will be available online for review and purchase in the weeks preceding the sale at www.bonhams.com.