Leslie Hindman Auctioneer’s fall auction of Contemporary, Modern, American and European art achieved exceptional prices, realizing over $2.7 million. The highlight of the sale was Wassily Kandinsky’s Composition No. 26 from the estate of John and Valere Butterwick, which sold for $454,000 (est. $300-500,000). Russian buyers competed aggressively for works sold to benefit the acquisition fund of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, with Natalya Nesterova’s The Dragon Flies selling for $23,180 (est. $800-1200). Other contemporary highlights include Victor Vasarely ‘s Photon B which achieved $24,400 (est. $ 8-12,000) and Ibram Lassaw’s Apsaras which achieved $29,280 (est. $12-18,000).

The American auction session was headlined by Reginald Marsh’s Spooks, from the collection of Majorie and Charles Benton, which realized $85,400. Bidders fought over two Hudson River School paintings from the estate of Chicago collector H.M. Barbour, with an Alexander Helwig Wyant selling for $31,720 (est. $3-5,000) and a Homer Dodge Martin luminist work achieving $21,180 (est. $8-12,000).

European Impressionist paintings performed well, with Gustave Loiseau’s Champ de blé selling for $85,400 (est. $30-50,000) and Pierre Eugene Montezin’s Les Cygnes achieving $36,600 (est. $30-50,000). Jacques Martin-Ferrieres’ Old Pot of Marseilles with Notre Dame de la Garde realized $36,600, the second highest price for the artist at auction.

The prints session saw steady bidding, with Francis Bacon’s Study for Bullfighter No. 1 selling for $54,900 (est. 35-45,000). Andy Warhol continues to be in demand with his Mao achieving $32,240 (est. $20-30,000), Flash Series achieving ($34,720) and Flowers $12,000 (est. $8-12,000). Other highlights include Joan Miro’s Le Matador which achieved $36,600 (est. $20-30,000) and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s Divan Japonais which achieved $20,740 (est. $10-15,000).

Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ next auction of Modern and Contemporary Art, and American and European Art will be on December 11th, and Fine Prints, Photographs and Multiples on December 12th. Consignments are invited for upcoming auctions; contact us at 312.280.1212 for more information.

Highlights:

Wassily Kandinsky, Composition No. 26, Sold for $454,000

Reginald Marsh, Spooks, Sold for $85,400

Natalya Nesterova, The Dragon Flies, Sold for $23,180

Frances Bacon, Study for Bullfighter No. 1, Sold for $54,900

Gustave Loiseau, Champ de blé, Sold for $85,400