On Sunday, May 31, Skinner presents an exceptional auction of American and European works of art with more than 350 lots covering a wide range of Western styles, media and regions from the 16th century to the present day, including paintings , sculptures and works on paper. Highlights of the sale include a dramatic Escape from Wolves by Alfred von Wierusz-Kowalski; a ski scene set in the Austrian Alps by Alfons Walde; and a superb composition by Hans Hofmann from 1950. The sale also includes a solid group of the Hudson River School and related landscapes and seascapes by Jasper Cropsey, Worthington Whittredge, Thomas Moran, William Trost Richards and George Durrie. The sculpture includes various works by Antoine-Louis Barye, Alfredo Pina, Jo Davidson, Donald De Lue and Harry Jackson. Beyond the Jacksons, works on offer depicting the American West include outstanding paintings by Buck Dunton and Gerald Cassidy. An American Impressionist painting by Philip Leslie Hale, linked to Claude Monet and the American colony of Giverny, is making its market debut. Also of note is a group of artworks from the Stebbins family collection which includes a rare and exquisite painting by the 19th century French watercolourist Léon Bonvin. Works by modern and contemporary artists, including Wolf Kahn, Judy McKie, Mon Levinson, Liu Zijian, George Grosz, Jamini Roy and Yayoi Kusama complete the sale.
Important works represented in the outstanding group of Hudson River School paintings include 1898 by William Trost Richards The Isle of Hoy (Lot 235, Estimate: $25,000-35,000). After 1867 Richards concentrated primarily on seascapes, and it is for works such as this depiction of an island off the north coast of Scotland that the artist is best known. A vibrant autumnal view by Jasper Cropsey (lot 241, estimate: $15,000-25,000) shows the artist’s preoccupation with the scenic vistas surrounding his home, “Ever Rest”, in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, where he moved in 1885 Like Cropsey, Thomas Moran favored the landscape around his house and painted a view of Georgica Pond (Lot 248, Estimate $35,000-45,000) which was only a few minutes of his summer residence and studio in East Hampton on Long Island, a subject to which he returned several times during the 1880s. A quintessential example of a Hudson River School landscape, the View of Mount Chocorua (lot 245, estimate: $25,000-35,000) in the White Mountains of New Hampshire attributed to Sanford Robinson Gifford, highlights this group.
- Alfred von Wierusz-Kowalski (Polish, 1849-1915), The Daring Escape/A Coaching Scene, oil on canvas (Lot 208, Estimate: $175,000-225,000)
- Alfons Walde (Austrian, 1891-1958), Aufstieg der Schifahreroil on canvas (Lot 280, Estimate: $250,000-350,000)
- Hans Hofmann (American, 1880-1966), Picture in blueoil on canvas (Lot 385, Estimate: $80,000-120,000)
- George Henry Durrie (American, 1820-1863), Sleighs Arriving at the Inn, oil on canvas (Lot 253, Estimate: $125,000-175,000)
- Alfredo Pina (Italian, 1883-1966), Anguishbronze (Lot 212, Estimate: $4,000-6,000)
- Donald De Lue (American, 1897-1988), Phaeton IIbronze (Lot 351, Estimate: $10,000-15,000)
- Harry Jackson (American, 1924-2011), Ropin’ a starbronze, (Lot 276, Estimate: $6,000-8,000)
- William Herbert (Buck) Dunton (American, 1878-1936), The water holeoil on canvas (Lot 273, Estimate: $70,000-90,000)
- Gerald Cassidy (American, 1879-1934), Almost thereoil on canvas (Lot 271, Estimate: $8,000-12,000)
- Philip Leslie Hale (American 1865-1936), Pink House, Givernyoil on canvas (Lot 292, Estimate: $20,000-40,000)
- Léon Bonvin (French, 1834-1866), Wildflowers on a Wooded Path, watercolor and gouache on paper (Lot 230, Estimate: $6,000-8,000)
- Wolf Kahn (German/American, 1927-2020), drawn descentoil on linen (Lot 314, Estimate: $25,000-35,000)
- Liu Zijian (Chinese, born 1956), The Brilliant IIink on paper (Lot 389, Estimate: $15,000-20,000)
- George Grosz (German/American, 1893-1959), Wellfleetwatercolour, gouache and ink on paper (Lot 311, Estimate: $6,000-8,000)
The Skinner Fine Paintings and Sculptures Auction (Auction 3390B) will take place on Sunday, May 31, 2020, beginning at 12 p.m. EDT. This auction will be a live online event, conducted by a live auctioneer, with real-time online bidding, limited and absentee telephone bidding. In accordance with local government guidelines, the public cannot be allowed into the auction room. Please note that the buyer’s premium is 25% up to and including the hammer price of $250,000 for live and online auctions. Realized prizes will be available online at www.skinnerinc.com during and after the sale. The Skinner website also allows users to view all lots in the auction, leave bids and bid live, in real time, via SkinnerLive!
Skinner attracts the best shipments and commands record prices in the international auction market. With proven expertise and extraordinary service, Skinner is the place to be for buyers, sellers and enthusiasts. Skinner’s reviewers are familiar faces on PBS’s 17-time Emmy-nominated ANTIQUES ROADSHOW. Visit us in Boston, Marlborough, New York, Maine or Miami, or online at https://www.skinnerinc.com
