: At Weschler's December 3 auction of American and European fine
art, the gallery was filled with many smiles, surprises and
holiday cheer.
The top lot of the day was an oil on canvas by French artist Jean
Dufy (1888-1964). The painting was from the collection of the
late Federal Reserve Board chairman William McChesney Martin Jr
and his wife, Cynthia Davis Martin, daughter of Dwight Davis, who
formed the Davis Cup. Once bidding began, the depiction of the
three musicians quickly pushed past its presale estimate of
$8/12,000 and sold to an overseas bidder for $52,875.
From the same collection an etching and aquatint by Pablo Picasso
(1881-1973) provided continuous excitement for the audience. The
work, "Faune Dévoilant une Femme," sold for $44,650, within the
$30/50,000 pre-sale estimate.
Other Spanish standouts included an oil on panel by Angel Botello
(1913-1986), "La Joven con la Sombrilla." Consigned by a
prominent local corporation, the vibrant oil fetched $39,950
against an $20/30,000 estimate. "Le Cracheur de Flammes," an
etching and aquatint with carborundrum in color by Joan Miró
(1893-1983) came in above estimate at $18,800. Additionally,
Mexican art was showcased by an oil and sand on panel work by
Rufino Tamayo (1899-1991). The painting, "Cabeza de Nino," sold
within estimate for $37,600.
An etching and aquatint by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso
(1881-1973), "Faun Dévoilant une Femme," sold for $44,650.
European works with strong showings included an oil on canvas
by Eduardo Gioia (1862-1937) which brought $7,962 against a
$3/5,000 estimate; two works depicting Mykonos Island by the Greek
artist Georges Cosmadopoulos (1895-1967) sold within estimate for
$3,760; and a watercolor and charcoal on paper of a polder
landscape by Jan Hendrik Weissenbruch (Dutch 1824-1903) climbed
past its presale estimate to $8,812.
One work that surprised bidders was a Twentieth Century French
School painting of a Middle Eastern street scene. Estimated to
bring $500/700, the oil on canvas ultimately sold to an overseas
bidder for $18,800.
Old Master works hit a high note with a pair of Eighteenth
Century French or Italian School landscapes consigned from a
local estate. The pair carried a $3/5,000 estimate but eventually
sold for $7,637 due to heavy overseas bidding. Other Old Master
highlights included an Eighteenth/Nineteenth Century Italian
School of a Madonna with Child, which realized above estimate at
$6,462, while a Seventeenth Century Italian School work, "The
Muse Terpsichore Playing a Harp," brought $4,935.
An oil on panel by Ángel Botello (Spanish 1913-1986), "La Joven
con la Sombrilla" fetched $39,950.
American works of note included a summer landscape by William
McDougal Hart (1823-1894). A bidding war ensued between the phones
and the Internet from the beginning and the painting eventually
sold to an Internet buyer for $24,500. An oil by Charles Appel
(1857-1928) of a figure canoeing at sunset realized $5,405 above
the $2/3,000 estimate. An untitled work by well-known local artist
Alma Woodsey Thomas (1891-1978) performed well and brought $15,275.
In Twentieth Century prints, an offset lithograph in color by Roy
Lichtenstein (American 1923-1997) titled "Shipboard Girl (Bianchini
12)" sailed past its $10/15,000 estimate to $16,450.
The next auction of American and European Fine Art will be April
8 with a consignment deadline of February 17. For information,
contact Alyson Horn at 202-628-1281.
