Joining in the Inaugural festivities, Christie’s offered a slew of patriotic likenesses at its sale of Important American Furniture and Folk Art this past Friday, January 23. Leading sales was “George Washington at Princeton,” a 1790s depiction of the military general by Charles Peale Polk. It went to James C. Rees, executive director of Mount Vernon Estate. Bidding on behalf of the Virginia museum, Rees acquired the picture for $662,500 ($300/500,000).
A new exhibition, “George Washington & His Generals,” opens at Mount Vernon on February 21. Following the Polk, “George Washington at Valley Forge” by Tompkins Harrison Matteson (1813‱884) sold to a phone bidder for $314,500 ($300/500,000).
In all, the January 21′3 Americana Week sales at Christie’s tallied $6,305,251, including buyer’s premium. Watch for a complete account in Antiques and The Arts Weekly . For information, www.christies.com or 212-492-5485.
