An untouched oil on canvas by American artist Edward Moran, a coastal scene with a lighthouse, brought $184,000 at Stephen Snow’s February 13 antiques auction at the Courtyard Marriott.

The important work, titled “Evening at Cape Ann,” measures 18 by 36 inches, was signed by Moran in two places and was dated 1872. Snow had estimated the painting to sell between $60,000 and $70,000, but the work set off a fierce round of competitive bidding, which included five phone lines, and lots of aggressive bidding from the floor.

Snow found the untouched painting in an Orleans, Mass., estate. “We drove down this dirt driveway, to a pristine, hidden away little house, with a dock on the water,” recalled Snow “It was filled with great things, including this painting.”

At the end, it was down to two determined buyers – a phone bidder and auctioneer Carl Stinson, who was present for the sale. Stinson nearly quit several times, but jumped back in. He lost the picture in the end to the phone.

The price includes a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

A complete review of the sale will appear in a future issue of Antiques and The Arts Weekly.