A dozen auction record prices were achieved for works of American art at Swann Galleries’ September auctions of works of art on paper. On September 18, Swann conducted a 670-lot auction of 100 fine works on paper; and Nineteenth and Twentieth Century prints and drawings, followed by a sale of American prints from a private collection, on September 23.
The top lot in the September 18 auction was a scarce lifetime impression of James A.M. Whistler’s “The Little Nude Model, Reading,” lithograph on Japan paper, 1889‹0, which brought a record $84,000.
The September 23 sale saw many more records for works by American artists. These included three Martin Lewis drypoints: “Rainy Day, Queens,” 1931; “Wet Night, Route 6,” 1933; and “Yorkville Night,” 1937, which brought $33,600, $19,200 and $26,400, respectively.
Also setting records were John Taylor Arms’s “The Gates of the City,” color aquatint and etching, 1922, at $21,600; Gustave Baumann’s “Cholla and Sahuaro,” color woodcut, 1924, for $21,600 and Gerard Geerlings’ “Jeweled City, Chicago,” aquatint and etching, 1931, at $28,800.
Also, Paul Landacre’s “Growing Corn,” wood engraving on Japan paper, 1932, $7,200; Benton Spruance’s “Prelude to Rest,” lithograph, 1935, $7,800; and Stow Wengenroth’s “Manhattan Gateway,” lithograph, 1948, $14,400.
The American art sale featured the largest collection of Frank W. Benson prints ever offered in a single auction †most with sporting themes †and one of them also set a benchmark price; “Old Tom,” an etching from 1926, sold for $14,400. Other notable Benson prints were “Marsh Gunner,” etching, 1918, $6,240; “Hunters,” etching on Japan paper, 1919, $3,360; and “Man with a Gaff,” drypoint, 1925, $3,360.
American highlights in the fine works on paper sale included several choice works, such as Charles Burchfield’s “Old Farmhouse and Trees,” crayon on paper, 1932, selling for $5,760; David Burliuk’s “Conversation at the Well,” oil on canvas, 1947, $19,200, and “Repast,” oil on board, circa 1947, $18,000; and Arthur B. Davies’ “Two Figures with Deer,” oil on canvas, $11,400.
Among the desirable European pieces were several prints by Picasso, including “En la Taberna, Pêcheurs Catalans en bordée (Au Cabaret),” etching, 1934, which sold for a record $40,800; “Garçon et Dormeuse à la Chandelle,” etching and aquatint, 1934, $26,400; “La Femme au Fauteuil,” color lithograph, 1947, $24,000; “Tête de Faune,” color linoleum cut, 1962, $26,400; the afterprint “Tête de Buffon,” color lithograph, circa 1964, at a record $26,400; and “Sable Mouvant,” portfolio with complete text and ten aquatints, 1966, $26,400.
Other European highlights were William Blake’s Illustrations of the Book of Job , bound volume with 22 engravings, 1826, $40,800; Georges Rouault’s “Automne,” color aquatint, 1938, $28,800; Fernand Léger’s “Les Plongeurs,” gouache over pencil, 1942, $43,200; Lyonel Feininger’s “Schiff, Abend am Meer,” double-sided watercolor and black ink, 1946, $36,000; and Francis Bacon’s “Figure Writing Reflected in a Mirror,” color lithograph, 1976, $19,200.
All prices reported include the buyer’s premium.
Swann Galleries is at 104 East 25th Street. For information, www.swanngalleries.com or contact Todd Weyman at 212-254-4710, extension 32.
