MILFORD, Conn. – Quality consignments are currently being accepted for a fine art auction of antique and vintage paintings slated for Thursday, Oct. 23rd, at Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers, in the firm’s gallery located at 354 Woodmont Road in Milford, starting at 6 p.m. Eastern time.

The auction will feature 250 works of fine art, spanning many genres. Online bidding will be provided by Invaluable.com.

Offered will be original paintings, sculptures, drawings and fine prints. An expected top lot of the auction is an original work by the noted painter Irving Ramsey Wiles (N.Y., 1861-1948). Titled The Loiterers, the painting should realize $150,000-$250,000. Wiles was the primary student of the master Impressionist William Merritt Chase.

“The art market is going through a resurgence and is on its way to a full-blown recovery after the economic downslide of 2008,” said Gene Shannon of Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers. “At every price level, prices are strong. For example, in our last auction we enjoyed very strong activity in the $2,000-$10,000 range. There’s a buoyant optimism out there, and a rising tide lifts all boats.”

Historically, Shannon’s has specialized in American and European art executed between 1840 and 1940. In recent years the firm has expanded more into post-war modern and pop art. “We have a track record of attracting works that have not been previously on the market in recent history, and will continue in that tradition,” Shannon said. “We’ll be accepting consignments through September 8th.”

Another strong candidate for top lot honors will be a recently discovered work by Theodore Robinson (1852-1896), an artist who was born in Vermont, raised in Wisconsin, became one of the pioneers of Impressionism in America and spent eight years working and studying in Paris. His rendering of a young girl in a pink dress sitting beneath a tree should make $50,000-$75,000.

The sale will feature three paintings by the photorealist Richard Estes (Am., b. 1932), including one of the Brooklyn Bridge that’s expected to fetch $25,000-$35,000. Estes was born in Illinois and studied at the Art Institute in Chicago (1952-1956) He then spent ten years in publishing and advertising in New York and Spain. His work has been exhibited, solo, at the Met in New York.

A painting by Thomas Waterman Wood (Am., 1823-1903), titled The Kitten, carries a pre-sale estimate of $40,000-$60,000. Wood, who was born in Vermont and worked in New York City, is probably best known as one of America’s first artists to find the black male a suitable subject for portrait and genre painting, and to portray blacks in general with dignity, in the Civil War era.

A work by Charles Sprague Pearce (1851-1914), titled Woman With Grapes, should command $40,000-$60.000. Pearce, best known for his portraits and genre scenes, was born in Boston and, on the advice of William Morris Hunt, the early American Impressionist, moved to Paris to study at the Leon Bonnat School. There, he became friends with John Singer Sargent and other ex-pats.

John Leslie Breck’s The Dragon in Winter has a pre-sale estimate of $25,000-$35,000. Born at sea on a clipper ship in the South Pacific, Breck (1860-1899) grew up in the Boston area but received his art training in Germany and France. He was an early exponent of the “new painting” avant-garde style of 19th century Impressionism.

A rendering of Venice by the Illinois-born painter Jane Peterson (born Jennie Christine, 1876-1965) should reach $40,000-$60,000. Peterson became famous for a wide range of works, from landscapes to still-lifes. These blended Impressionist and Expressionist movements. Peterson’s life was much more independent and adventurous than other female contemporaries of her time.

A painting by the well-traveled artist Grigory Gluckmann (1898-1973), titled The Emerald Toe Shoes, one of four works by the artist, is expected to command $30,000-$50,000. Gluckmann was born in Russia. While studying at the Art Academy in Moscow, he fled Russia for Berlin, to escape the Revolution. From Germany, he moved to Italy, then to Paris and finally to California.

Also sold will be a bronze by Francisco Zuniga (Mex., 1912-1998), titled Evelia an Una Silla (est. $50,000-$75,000); a painting by Johann Preyer (Germ., 1803-1889), titled Still Life With Champagne Flute and Oysters (est. $30,000-$50,000); a work by Eugenio Zampighi (It., 1859-1944, est. $25,000-$35,000); and 12 Old Masters from the estate of Yale restorer Andew Petryn.

Other European works will include pieces by Richard Creyfields (N.Y., 1853-1939); T. de Bock (Dutch, 1851-1904); Emile C. Dameron (Fr., 1803-1908); Francisco Villar and Hendrik Schwegmen.

Other notable works in the auction will be by William Louis Sonntag (Oh./N.Y., 1822-1900); Hermann Herzog (Pa./Calif./Germ., 1832-1932); Michael Goldberg (N.Y. 1924-2007); Paul Cornoyer (N.Y./Mo., 1864-1923); and Edward Moran (Pa./N.Y., 1829-1901). Sculptures will come from noted artists such as MacMonnies, McCartan, LoMedico, Wein, Houser and others.

Previews will be held daily starting Monday, Oct. 13th, and continue through auction day, Oct. 23rd (except on Sundays, when Shannon Fine Art Auctioneers is closed). Preview hours are 11-6 (EST), except Oct. 23rd, when the preview will end at 5 p.m., an hour before the auction’s start time. In addition to live and online bidding, telephone and absentee bids will also be accepted.

Shannon’s produces an extensive 164-page, color catalog, which is available for sale on their website (shannons.com). A large, 8-page color brochure will also be mailed to 18,000 clients.

Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To consign a single piece of artwork, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (203) 877-1711; or, e-mail them at info@shannons.com. To learn more about Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers and the Thursday, October 23 auction, please visit www.shannons.com. Updates are posted frequently.

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