Hometown Glory
The return of Freeman’s hallmark American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists auction resulted in record-breaking sales
June 9 marked yet another strong American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists sale for Freeman’s, resulting in $2.47 million in total sales with 81 percent of the total lots sold. Located in the heart of Philadelphia, the auction house—which first opened its doors in 1805—is well known for its strong collection of works from leading Pennsylvania Impressionists. this was evident in the summer sale, which featured nearly 160 lots from soughtafter
artists, including William Glackens, Martin Lewis, Joseph Stella, Charles Burchfield, Fern Coppedge, Edward Willis Redfield, walter Schofield, walter Launt Palmer, Hugh Breckenridge, Mary Elizabeth Price and more.
“I was absolutely delighted with the results of our June auction, many of which far exceeded expectations,” shares Alasdair Nichol, the chairman and director of fine art at Freeman’s. “Half a dozen lots sold for six-figure sums, and I was particularly pleased that the beautiful Beaux painting set a new auction record for the artist and deservedly so—further proof that Philadelphia artists sell best in Philadelphia.”
The aforementioned oil on canvas, Ethel Page as Undine, was the top lot of the sale. Estimated at $60,000 to $80,000, the work sold for a recordbreaking $454,000.“We felt that this was really an exceptional piece of work
by her,” says Nichol. “and the fact that it was painted on Chestnut Street back in the 1880s… it was nice to be selling on the same street all these years later.”
It comes as little surprise that another top lot was an N.C. Wyeth.the work, titled The Seaserpent and Angelica | The huge monster soon came in sight, part of his body appearing above the waves and part concealed (est. $250/400,000), sold for $358,000, reaffirming the “interest in Wyeth’s art and this type of art” to Nichol. “because the Wyeth family is pretty much in our backyard we’ve traditionally done very well with their pieces,” he explains.
Other highlights include the sale of January by Palmer, which sold for $137,500, shattering its presale estimate of $40,000 to $60,000; Redfield’s The Frozen Creek ($150/250,000), which sold for $298,000; and Daniel Garber’s oil, Cobb’s Creek (est. $100/150,000), which realized $137,500.
Since the sale, Freeman’s has wasted no time preparing for its next American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists auction. “We are actively seeking exceptional works for our December auction which will be held in our new premises,” shares Nichol. “We already have secured some stellar consignments and are anticipating a rousing end to the year.”