PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Spanning movements from Modernism to Impressionism, the works being presented in Freeman's December 6 auction of American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists define the scope and diversity that is great American Art. Represented in this auction are three generations of the iconic Wyeth family, with works from N.C., Andrew, and Jamie. The distinctive genre of American illustrative art as characterized by Norman Rockwell and Maxfield Parrish is also featured, as are Pennsylvania painters Thomas Eakins and Daniel Garber.
Barely known and rarely seen, the undisputed star of the sale is Andrew Wyeth's "Winter Corn Fields" (Lot 81, Estimate $600,000-800,000). This work comes to auction from The Estate of Nancy duPont Reynolds Cooch, who had been a childhood friend of Wyeth's. "Every so often a painting comes along that resonates deeply, and for me, this is one," said Vice Chairman Alasdair Nichol of the work. He went on to remark that "Personally, I consider this to be the most exciting period of Wyeth's career - he's just coming into his own and escaping his father's influence. This is six years before his masterpiece 'Christina's World,' and already we're seeing the symbolism he would become known for - that ominous, brooding sense of uncertainty."
Two pillars of the American "Golden Age of Illustration," Norman Rockwell and Maxfield Parrish, are also featured in this auction. Lots 36-39 (Estimated at $60,000-$100,000 each) are a series of four pencil drawings by Norman Rockwell , studies for oil paintings which depict the seasonal adventures of "Two Old Men and Dog." Maxfield Parrish's oil on board work, "Blue Fountain" (Study for Reveries), is an excellent example of the artist's fantastical landscapes (Lot 35, Estimate $150,000-250,000).
Also highlighted in the auction are works by Daniel Garber and Thomas Eakins, two artists with ties to Philadelphia. Daniel Garber's "The Mary Maxwell House (The Milk Wagon)," is an energetic and complex composition that highlights the Pennsylvania Impressionist's work at its best (Lot 108, Estimate $150,000-250,000). Lot 7 in the auction is "Study of a Spectator for 'Taking the Count'" by Thomas Eakins. The painting being offered is an intimate study of one of the onlookers in Eakins large-scale masterpiece "Taking the Count."
Freeman's has witnessed tremendous growth within this collecting category since separating their Fine American & European Art auction into two specialty sales in 2013. The average lot value for American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists works has increased 276% and final sale results have more than doubled with the last two auctions realizing $3.4 million each. Freeman's has continued to attract the interest of collectors, both nationally and internationally, with their curated offerings. "Freeman's and Philadelphia are where the Pennsylvania Impressionists belong and where the market is strongest," added Nichol.
Exhibition for American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists opens to the public on Thursday December 3, with the auction taking place this Sunday, December 6 at 2pm. For more information call 215.563.9275 or visit www.freemansauction.com.
Media Contact: Tara Theune Davis, [email protected]
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SOURCE Freeman's
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