Magic and Myth
The Scottsdale Art Auction returns with a huge selection of works by Maynard Dixon and otherwestern artists.
Scottsdale Art Auction returns with huge selections of works by Maynard Dixon and other Western artists
In the overlap of history and mythology, that’s where you’ll find Western art. Its themes, settings and even many of its subjects—cowboys, bronco busters and Native Americans— are rooted in history, but have, over the course of a century, worked their way into the magic and myth of the Old West. On April 4, the Scottsdale
Art Auction will offer pieces of the American West when it brings more than 375 works of Western art to bidders in Scottsdale,arizona.
“We have a great number of amazing works of art this year, including some really important works from artists like Maynard Dixon, as well as the artists of Taos, New Mexico,” says auction partner Brad Richardson. “this year we had to really put the brakes on the works we were bringing in because we took in too many. But we kept getting these great pieces. It’s hard to turn them down when they’re all so amazing.” Richardson says the Dixon works are especially noteworthy for this year’s sale, and they come from all around the country from multiple consignors. Important highlights include Neolithic
Afternoon, showing two figures perched atop a cluster of boulders in the afternoon sun.the figures—one appears to be female, and both are nude—have a slumped shape to their forms and blend into the composition in such a way that not every viewer of the painting will see the figures at first glance.“neolithic Afternoon is truly a very important piece. It’s simply stunning,” Richardson says.“it will join some other Dixon works—13 in all— including drawings, watercolors and illustrations.we have something from every period of Dixon’s career.”
Other Dixon works include the oil Arizona Desert (est. $100/150,000), the watercolor Saddle Stock (est. $45/65,000) and Trail Herd (est. $400/600,000), which shows a cowboy on horseback leading a herd of cattle through the dust. Some of the works coming to the auction are a direct result of the Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West’s hit Maynard Dixon exhibition that opened in 2019. Scottsdale Art Auction sponsored the exhibition.
The Taos works will also likely delight bidders with a number of major pieces, including E. Martin Hennings’ Rabbit Hunters (est. $70/100,000), showing two Native American figures in a vast plain at the foot of a mountain in northern New Mexico, and Bert Geer Phillips’ portrait Uncas (est. $25/35,000). Joseph Henry Sharp will be represented by two works: Interior of a Buffalo Hunter’s Teepee (est. $100/150,000) and February Chinook, Crow Reservation (est. $100/150,000).The works show two of Sharp’s most celebrated themes and compositions: single Native American figures in interior scenes and large teepee scenes from Montana. Additional lots include Henry Farny’s Indian Plains (est. $100/150,000), Frank Tenney Johnson’s nocturne cowboy Tejon – My Palomino (est. $80/120,000) and
Castle Rock, a painting by Thomas Moran that is estimated at $250,000 to $450,000.
Western bronze will also play a large role at this year’s auction, with important pieces coming from some of the top artists.the sale will offer a lifetime cast of Frederic Remington’s The Cheyenne (est. $400/600,000), as well as several pieces from Henry Shrady.a lifetime Roman Bronze Works cast of Charles M. Russell’s Where the Best Riders Quit will also be available with estimates of $300,000 to $500,000.
The sale will also feature a number of important new works from many of the top contemporary Western artists working today. Many of those will be offered during the first of two sessions on April 4.The first session will also offer a high number of works with no reserves or low reserves, which has generated considerable interest at previous auctions.
Expectations for the sale are strong, Richardson says, adding that the economy is certainly helping that. “Only time will tell, but the timing is great because the economy is only getting stronger.”
Richardson also points out that he expects more interest from online buyers, but also says that in-person bidding will remain consistently strong. “When you’re buying an important painting or sculpture, you want to see it in person, and we see that over and over again with some of our best collectors—they just want to be in the room to see it all happen,” he says. “And when you add 500 other bidders in the room, it can get very exciting very quickly.”