(One of the most decorative U.S. marine pieces, James Edward Buttersworth's The Royal Yacht Squadron Cup Race, 1851, depicting America, the winner and only U.S. entry against the 14 English boats in the race around the Isle of Wight, was withdrawn late this week. The race the boat won later became known as the America's Cup.)
The auction's top presale estimate is for another U.S. work with a bucolic theme - sort of: Carl Clemens Moritz Rungius' Grizzly Bear. Showing the 500- to 800-pound northwestern American beast in a mountainous setting, the 30-by-40-inch oil on canvas has a presale estimate of $200,000 to $300,000.
The catalog describes the German American Rungius as part of a school of sporting artists, dominated by Britain. And indeed, the auction's European works are dominated by English equestrian images, portraits, and action scenes.
Among the 18 lots are three expected to bring four- to five-figure prices: John Sartorius' 1812 Catching the Scent and a companion piece, The Kill (each $20,000 to $30,000); John Emms' In Full Pursuit of five hounds, ($80,000 to $100,000), and Benjamin Marshall's circa 1822 portrait of a bay filly named Pastime ($80,000 to $120,000).
Other equestrian prints are thought to have come from the collection of Robert de Grey Vyner through the Graham Arader Gallery, as well as from Ditchley, the duPont estate in Virginia.
The European works also include paintings from the estate of Marvin Lundy. Among them are Edward Seago's English Channel scene, The Harbor, Honfleur ($8,000 to $12,000), and Johann Mastenbroek's steamship-filled Busy Harbor ($5,000 to $8,000). The Lundy collection also contains a notable work by the American impressionist Edmund William Greacen (1877 to 1949) The Tea Table ($20,000 to $30,000).
Other notable works in the sale by U.S. and European artists: Benares by Edwin Lord Weeks ($20,000 to $30,000); On the Coast, Sailboats on the Horizon, by Alfred Thomas Bricher ($40,000 to $60,000); and Santa Maria della Pace, Roma, a dramatic church scene by Raimundo de Madrazo y Garretta depicting a dozen women in varying prayerful poses near a confessional ($30,000 to $50,000).
The sale winds up with Pennsylvania impressionists, including John F. Folinsbee's New Hope From Across the Delaware ($8,000 to $12,000); Fern I. Coppedge's New Pineville in October ($10,000 to $15,000); Richard Gibson Wedderspoon's Bowman's Hill and Kenneth R. Nunamaker's Backyard (each $12,000 to $18,000); Arthur Meltzer's The Cabbage Patch and Walter E. Schofield's Coastal Landscape (each $15,000 to $25,000); and George W. Sotter's Brook in Winter and The Neighbors (each $50,000 to $80,000).
Previews: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the gallery at 1808 Chestnut St. For information, call 215-563-9275.
Art and antiques. Beginning at 2 p.m. Wednesday at its Chester Heights gallery, Wilson's Auctioneers and Appraisers will conduct a multi-estate art and antique sale featuring furniture, both contemporary Danish and antique; paintings; sterling; model trains; and glassware, including a 100-piece collection of cruets (those containers for oil, vinegar, soy and steak sauce, etc.).
Furniture and artwork includes a circa 1880 Victorian oak secretary bookcase carved by Estella M. Newsome, onetime head of the classics department at Earlham College ($1,500 to $2,000); a 34-by-44-inch pastel painting of a scholarly gentleman by Elizabeth H. Watson, an alumna of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($1,500 to $2,000); an oil on board of a steamship by Olaf Gulbransson ($700 to $1,000), and a Handel-signed slag glass lamp with palm tree decoration ($600 to $800).
Among sterling and model trains are a 13-inch twin-handled Mexican silver bowl ($600 to $800); a Gorham "Camellia" pattern silver flatware service ($1,600 to $2,000); and five prewar Lionel sets, notably a 1935 Red Comet "Commodore Vanderbilt" ($800 to $1,000).
Previews: noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. to sale time Wednesday at the gallery at 344 Valleybrook Rd. For information call 610-358-9515 .
Rodebaugh collection. Also on Wednesday, B.S. Slosberg Inc. will wind up its liquidation of the antiquarian library of the late Paul Rodebaugh of West Chester with a sale beginning at 6 p.m. at the gallery at 2501 E. Ontario St. The collection focuses on Southeastern Pennsylvania history, genealogy titles, business and personal ledgers, broadsides, pamphlets, atlases, and directories.
Preview: 2 p.m. to sale time Wednesday. For information call 215-425-7030.
Contact David Iams at daiams@comcast.net.
