New Hampshire Auctions And Appraisals – Summer Abstract, Fine Arts, and Collectibles Auction
Friday August 22 at 6pm
www.nhauctionsandappraisals.com

GOFFSTOWN, N.H. — NH Auctions will offer a collection of abstract expressionist art during its August 22 auction with special emphasis on the color field painters of the 1960s and the more recent works of the gestural abstract expressionism of the 1980s and 1990s in New York.

During the 1960s, color field painters emerged in the United States, particularly in New York and Washington, DC, using formats of stripes, targets and simple geometric patterns. Two of the well-known Washington, DC, color field artists were Ken Noland and Gene Davis, whose works will be offered at this auction. The movement places its emphasis on color, freed from all other context.

Gestural is a term used to describe the application of paint in free sweeping gestures with a brush. The term originally came into use to describe the painting of the abstract expressionist artists Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning, among others. The idea was that the artist would physically act out his or her inner impulses, and that something of his emotion or state of mind would be read by the viewer in the resulting artwork.

Elyssa Rundle, whose partial art collection will be offered during this auction, was a leading gestural artist. These two branches of abstract expressionism, color field and gestural, had their origins in the paintings of Joan Miró; a work of his will be also offered for sale during this auction.

Gene Davis (1920-1985) was known especially for his paintings of vertical stripes of color and was among the most prominent member of the Washington Color School. The work at auction is very representative of his best work. It is a large (52 by 121½ inches) acrylic painting on canvas of colorful vertical stripes repeating particular colors to create a sense of rhythm and repetition with variations.

Kenneth Noland (1924-2010) is one of the best-known American color field painters and led the establishment of the Washington Color School movement. The large (75 by 70 inches) attributed work at auction is one of his most common formats, the bull’s-eye or target, a series of concentric rings with attractive color combinations.

Elyssa Rundle (1932-1994) of New York is known for her large gestural abstract paintings of great texture and a bold approach to color and composition. Unfortunately, she died quite young, but three years after her death, in 1997, her collection of work won a grant from the Judith Rothschild Foundation for the purpose of bringing recognition to highly talented, deceased artists. The Rothschild Grant helped create an inventory of the collection, and an exhibit and catalog called The Spirit of the Paint by the Berman Museum. Ten of her works from this collection will be offered at auction.

Tying these artists and their movements together are the works of Joan Miró (1893-1983) and the enthusiastic support of New York art critic Clem Greenburg. Joan Miró, who was friends with Pablo Picasso, Alexander Calder, Ernest Hemingway, Max Ernst and Paul Klee, is known as a surrealist and an abstract expressionist. His work at this auction is a signed, unframed watercolor on paper depicting figures, eyes and celestial bodies in an abstract curvilinear form typical of his work.

Clem Greenburg knew and supported both Ken Noland and Gene Davis and included their work in the exhibition “Post-Painterly Abstraction” that he curated which traveled the country and helped to firmly establish color field painting. He was also a great admirer of Elyssa Rundle’s work with several pictures of them together in the collection.

Also at auction will be several other examples of fine art. These include a mobile in the manner of Alexander Calder, attributed artwork by Paul Klee, a beach scene by John Gable, Maine artist, Alfred Chadbourn, “Boat Yard” scene and several more abstract paintings. A Frederick Remington sculpture, “The Savage” and a Karen Petersen sculpture of embracing figures are also in the auction. The sale also introduces two local New Hampshire artists. Paul Moreau, an accomplished painter of the “Realistic School,” will have his seascapes of Jenness Beach and Rye Beach in the auction. Pam Tarbell is quite an eclectic painter and three of her works are included — a Native American warrior tunic, a barn quilt and an abstract landscape — all oils on canvas.

The auction will commence at 6 pm with bidding on Invaluable, LiveAuctioneers and the NH Auctions website. Previews are by appointment and on August 8 and 21.

NH Auctions and Appraisals is at 41B Main Street. For information, 603-731-9876 or www.nhauctionsandappraisals.com.

Previews August 8 and 21 (10am to 4pm) and by Appointment
Early 20th Century English Grandfather Clock with Impressive Movement
2018 Mercedes S-450 with 38,000 Miles
1931 Restored Model A Deluxe
Ken Noland attributed Bullseye Acrylic on Canvas 75″ x 70″
Signed Joan Miro abstract Watercolor and Ink on Paper 23.5″ x 18″
Elyssa Rundle Acrylic on Canvas Painting, Collection of 10 Works 72″ x 60″
Gene B. Davis Acrylic on Canvas 52″ x 121.5″
Alfred Chadbourn Oil on Canvas 3O”x4O”
John Gable Beach Scene Oil on Canvas 26″ x 48″
1 of 5 Fazzino Artworks
Frederick Remington’s Savage 11″ fl
Karen Petersen Sculpture 35″ H
Rare 1777 Brion de la Tour Map of The Revolutionary War
Collection of Antique Maps
Jackson Proclamation to SC Nullification
Gov Wentworth Proclamation prior to Lexington-Concord
Collection of Presidential Commissions including Presidents Grant, T. Roosevelt, McKinley, Johnson
1974 Martin Double 018 Guitar
1 0f 3 Old Master Copies
Jenness Beach, NH, Oil on Canvas by Paul Moreau, 46″ x 64″
Barn Quilt Oil on Canvas by Pam Tarbell, 24″ x 24″
Mobile in Manner of Calder
1 of 6 Model Boats
At Auction will be Several lots of Abstract and Fine Art, Collection of Rare Antique Maps, Asian Items, Presidential Documents and Commissions, Model Boats, Clocks and an Interesting Selection of Collectibles
Bidding Starting 8 August
www.nhauctionsandappraisals.com
NH Auctioneer License #4041 | 41B Main Street, Goffstown, NH 03045 | Ken Labnon 603-680-1676 | Mike Reopel 603-731-9876