DALLAS — Ernie Barnes’ “Quintet,” and Theodore Robinson’s “Normandy Mother and Child (Marie Trognon and Baby),” each drew a winning bid of $645,000 to lead Heritage Auctions’ Diverse Visions: Important Works by American Masters Signature Auction on May 12.

“Quintet” was exhibited in the fall of 1990 at New York’s Grand Central Art Galleries as part of Barnes’ solo exhibition “The Beauty of the Ghetto,” which was subtitled “Exhibition of Neo-Mannerist Paintings.” The usage of “neo-mannerist” is appropriate, given that a hallmark of Barnes’ work is how elongated and fluid his human figures are. Barnes’ background as an athlete granted him a breathtaking interpretation of bodies in motion, and “Quintet” ranks among Barnes’ masterworks, a joyful depiction of jazz musicians at work and at play, a piece so alive it echoes with a bebop soundtrack. Their eyes are closed, a hallmark of Barnes’ work that dates back to 1971, when he said he first conceived of “The Beauty of the Ghetto” as an exhibition.

Theodore Robinson’s “Normandy Mother and Child” stems from the artist’s “Giverny period,” considered the time frame of his strongest works. It features a fair-haired young working-class woman with striped bodice and blue apron identified as Marie Trognon. She is shown seated with an infant in her lap, while a backdrop of emerald foliage is rendered in energetic French Impressionist brushwork and jewel-like hues. During the early 1890s, Robinson employed other Trognon family members as models and Marie was the perfect subject, embodying maternité while also providing an idealized vision of everyday peasant life. Considered among Robinson’s finest efforts, this painting was chosen by the prominent art dealer William MacBeth to be included in Robinson’s first solo exhibition in New York in 1895, after his return to the United States.

Prices quoted with buyer’s premium as reported by the auction house. For information, 214-528-3500 or www.ha.com.