American Art + Pennsylvania Impressionist Auction Results

Earlier this month, Freeman 's presented the American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionist auction. The auction totaled just over $1,155,000 for 83 lots sold and had an 80 percent sell-through rate.“This was one of our best attended auctions yet and confirmed Freeman 's status as the premier venue for both private buyers and sellers of Pennsylvania Impressionism,” Head of Department, Alasdair Nichol, said. “This exciting field of collecting is very much on Freeman 's doorstep and is at the heart of our American Art department.”The sale opened with a Martin Lewis drypoint, entitled “Rainy Day, Queens” which sold to a private buyer for $37,500, against an estimate of $20,000-30,000. The etching is a highly notable and distinguished print from Lewis 's oeuvre, and is one of the many scenes of New York City for which the artist is so renowned. The work presents a view of historical urban architecture as well as a vignette of the city 's inhabitants engaging in quotidian activities, and serves a nostalgic look into New York 's lively past.Pennsylvania Impressionists dominated bidding on Sunday. Daniel Garber remains a leading artist among the school, whose landscape paintings depict idyllic environs of the New Hope area. Garber attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) in 1899 and later returned as a teacher, with a tenure lasting over 40 years. Garber 's “Portrait of Hervey Allen” (Lot 82) captured the thoughtful repose of the subject, and provided a glimpse into the life of the celebrated American novelist. This much admired painting sold to a private collector in Philadelphia for $87,500.Fern Coppedge, another successful PAFA alumna highlighted the sale as well. Coppedge is the most significant female artist of the Pennsylvania Impressionist movement. Snow-covered landscapes are among her best works, easily identifiable by their brightly-hued and vivaciously rendered depictions of the Bucks County, Pennsylvania towns along the Delaware River.“I was particularly pleased  with the performance of Fern Coppedge, whom we singled out and made the focus of our marketing efforts. Eight of the top ten auction records for her work, including the top three, have been achieved in our rooms,” Nichol said.Of the five paintings by Coppedge sold on Sunday afternoon, four hammered above their initial estimates. Lot 63, “Pigeon Cove” sold for $75,000 against an estimate of $40,000-60,000; Lot 88, “Clearing Off Gloucester Harbor,” almost doubled its high estimate of $12,000-18,000 when it sold for $32,500.Early works from their careers, George Sotter 's Creek in Winter and Edward Redfield 's “Raven Rock Wing Dam” also found a ready market and sold for $35,000 and $40,625 respectively. Each came from private collections and were bought by private collectors— very much the trend of the day.Sotter will be a focus in the December 2017 American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionist sale. This focus coincides with Freeman 's co-sponvsorship of a major exhibition of his work at the Michener Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.“I am eagerly anticipating our next sale and have already secured a fine, fresh-to-market Redfield winter scene, as well as works by Coppedge,” Nichol expressed. “The American Art section of the upcoming sale will also feature fine examples of Western and Illustration art. We are of course seeking further fine consignments." TOP LOTSLot 82: Daniel Garber (American 1880-1958)“Portrait of Hervey Allen”Sold for $87,500Lot 63: Fern Isabel Coppedge (American 1883-1951)“Pigeon Cove”Sold for $75,000Lot 75: Fern Isabel Coppedge (American 1883-1951)“Mill By a Stream”Sold for $50,000Lot 92: Edward Willis Redfield (American 1869-1965)“Raven Rock Wing Dam”Sold for $40,625Lot 102: Fern Isabel Coppedge (American 1883-1951)“Little House at Lambertville (Village Road)”Sold for $40,625.Lot 1: Martin Lewis (American 1881-1962)“Rainy Day, Queens”Sold for $37,500 Freeman 's is inviting consignments for our Dec. 3, 2017 American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists auction.Sell your art, or schedule your private, complimentary appointment Today