McGrew Painting Tops 20th Annual Event

DALLAS, TEX. – Altermann Galleries recent 20th annual Collectors Set Price Sale realized $3,806,205, a record total for the firm from the two-day event. Unquestionably the highlight of the auction was “An Old Time Sing” by recently deceased Western artist R. Brownell McGrew (1916-1994), which reached more than triple its high estimate (est $200/300,000) for an astounding $962,500.

“We’ve been holding his event for two decades and I’ve never seen such a high level of interest,” stated gallery owner Tony Altermann. “It far exceeds the booming ’80s when Texas real estate and petro-dollars were driving the market. Today the buyers are more widespread. The majority of the art in this [auction] will be leaving Texas. Collectors from 20 states and two foreign countries played a part in making the sale a success.”

The event started with Gordon Snidow’s “I Don’t Do Windows” fetching $59,400 (est $20/35,000). The next lot, James Boren’s “In Navajo Land” tripled its high estimate, bringing $25,300 (est $7/9,000). Gallery artist David Mann continued his rise in the Western ranks with “Cheyenne Camp,” which totaled $27,500 (est $12/14,000).

In the past masters category, W. Herbert Dunton’s “October in the Canyon Bottom – 1926” reached $198,000 (est $80/120,000). Frank Tenney Johnson’s nighttime scene “Home of the Navajo” brought $99,000 (est $60/70,000). “Approaching Rain” by E. Martin Hennings totaled $121,000 (est $70/100,000). Bert Geer Phillips’ bright autumn scene “Indians Coming through the Aspens” was acquired for $77,000 (est $40/60,000).

Among the contemporary artists represented, G. Harvey’s 12-by-9-inch oil painting “Trail by Sunrise” (est $7/9,000) sold for $17,600. Roy Andersen’s “They Rode with Honor” sold for $44,000 (est $35/40,000) and Gary Carter’s “Windshield Cowboys” realized $18,700 (est $7/9,000).

The wildlife portion of the sale featured living master Bob Kuhn’s “Lion Pair – Female Lying Down” (est $18/22,000) which sold for $30,800 and “Lion Pair – Both Standing (est $18/22,000) which sold for $24,200. Kuhn’s “Cape Buffalo with Cattle Heron” (est $14/18,000) fetched $37,400. Gallery artist Grant Macdonald’s water fowl in landscape painting “Daybreak at Bosque de Apache brought $22,000 (est $17/18,000). The biggest surprise of the wildlife section of the auction was “Courtship Flight,” George Carlson’s Prix de West award-winning bronze, bringing $88,000, seven times the high estimate (est $9/12,000).

Prices quoted include buyers premium.