Childe Hassam's The East Hampton Elms in May brings $288,000 at Shannon's
- MILFORD, Connecticut
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- May 06, 2013
(MILFORD, Conn.) – A large and important oil painting by the renowned American Impressionist Childe Hassam (1859-1935), titled The East Hampton Elms in May, sold for $288,000 at an auction held Apr. 25 by Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers in Milford, Conn. The painting was the top lot of 156 works offered.
Many other paintings brought high prices in an auction that grossed $2.1 million. “What this sale showed was that not only is there interest at the high end of the art market, but strong interest, too, in the middle market – artworks in the $5,000-$50,000 arena,” said auction house co-owner Gene Shannon. “That segment had taken a hit following the financial crisis, and it is a good sign to see it revived.”
Close to 100 people packed Shannon’s Milford gallery, while many others registered to bid online, via Artfact.com. A bank of 18 phones was kept busy throughout the evening. “If we had twice the merchandise, we could have sold it,” Shannon remarked. “The money’s out there and the demand is strong.”
Other notable prices were $132,000 for a pop art work by Nicholas Krushenick; and a small painting by the noted Philadelphia Impressionist Martha Walter, titled Tea Party, sailed past its high pre-sale estimate to hammer for $90,000.
Following a longstanding pattern at Shannon’s, the Hudson River School proved to be quite popular with bidders. An oil by Jasper Francis Cropsey, titled Greenwood Lake in the Autumn (1890) soared to $72,000; and a 10 inch by 16 inch oil on canvas landscape by David Johnson, titled Spring – A Study on the Bronx at Mt. Vernon, dated 1873, brought $50,400.
A small oil on board by William Trost Richards, titled White Face Mountain From Lake Placid, changed hands for $25,200.
Pop Art prints were led by two giants in the industry. A color offset lithograph by Andy Warhol titled Liz (On Red) (1964) and depicting Elizabeth Taylor, hammered for $43,200; and another color offset lithograph by Roy Lichtenstein, titled Crying Girl (1963), realized $50,400.
A haunting untitled egg tempera of a woman by George Tooker, went for $66,000. A Guy Wiggins of the New York Public Library in snow brought $45,600. Dale Nichols as always sold well at Shannon’s (which holds the world record for the artist at auction at $78,000). Tuis auction featured The Sentinel, a dominant tree on a snowbound Nebraska farm, which went for $45,600, and Silent Morning, a later snow scene, that realized $21,600.
Other notables were Henri Lebasque at $55,200; Edouard Cortes' Paris Street scene for $36,000; an Alexander Calder gouache brought $31,200; Henri Rousseau, Horses by an Arab Gate, with eight phones from Europe, realized $$31,200; two trompe l’oeil paintings of money by Otis Kaye hammered down for $28,800 and $12,000; and a violin with music sheet by Nicholas Alden Brooks brought $28,800 in heated competition.
Shannon Fine Art Auctioneers’ next big auction is scheduled for Thursday, Oct.24. They are always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To consign a single piece of artwork, an estate or an entire collection, you may call them at (203) 877-1711; or, you can email them at info@shannons.com. To learn more about Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers and the Oct. 24 auction, please log on to www.shannons.com.
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About Shannon's
Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers ~ Established 1997. Shannon’s prides itself on providing each client with personalized service, educating consignors and buyers on fine art, the auction process, and market trends. Spring and Fall Fine Art Auctions: Each year, Shannon’s hosts two cataloged fine art auctions in the Spring and Fall. These sales feature 200+ lots of paintings, drawings, fine prints, and sculpture from the 19th century through Contemporary. Winter and Summer Online Fine Art Sales: Shannon’s also hosts online auctions of Fine Art in January and June each year. These sales are hosted exclusively online with in-person previews available. Periodically, Shannon’s hosts online auctions of collections from single private owners or corporate collections. Our specialist areas include American Art, European Art, Modern Art, Contemporary Art, Fine Prints, Sculpture, Impressionism, and more. New England’s Premier Fine Art Auction House: Shannon’s is aggressively positioned to compete with New York City auction houses in the middle market. Shannon’s offers a bank of 20+ phone lines, online bidding, and has an app available to buyers. Targeted emails, full color catalogs, an extensive mailings list and a user-friendly website attract buyers from across the United States and internationally. Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers opened in 1997 as New England’s premier fine art auction house. Founded by partners Gene and Mary Anne Shannon, the firm quickly established an international reputation for integrity, knowledge of fine art, and personalized service. In 1998, their daughter, Sandra Germain joined the firm bringing her extensive background in business, marketing, and fine art. In 2014, Sandra assumed the position of Managing Partner. Shannon’s team of employees continues to provide personalized, responsive service to their clients that is unsurpassed in the auction market.
