Altermann Galleries & Auctioneers’ Santa Fe Sale
Santa Fe, NM
Altermann Galleries & Auctioneers will host its next Santa Fe, New Mexico-based sale August 10 and 11, featuring important Western and Native American art. There will be both historic and contemporary items represented, providing a range of items for collectors among the approximately 650 lots.
Richard Altermann, owner of the auction house says, “In terms of collecting art, because we see such a wide variety of art genres, you always have certain artists that continue to sell well, but Altermann Galleries is picking up new consignors and new buyers with each auction. The reach of the internet continues to expand our market and can make up a third of the buyers at an auction.”
One of the standouts of the sale is Theodore Van Soelen’s Gathering for Vespers (est. $50/70,000). The artist, who was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1890, moved to Santa Fe after 1922 and remained in the state until his death in 1964. “In my opinion, it’s the best Theodore Van Soelen that I’ve seen on the market,” says Altermann of the painting. “It is an extremely well executed work and the Santa Fe scenery is celebrated in this piece.”
Another artist who captures the luminosity of the Santa Fe region is Fremont Ellis, whose painting The Golden Day (est. $25/35,000) features trees dappled with golden leaves. The piece, as Altermann explains, “is a good example of his more impressionistic style of work. The subject matter is what you want. I think having the figurative elements is another good dimension to the painting. The palette that he’s used goes well with the atmosphere you see in Santa Fe.”
Several artists in the sale will be represented by artwork from their prime or transitional periods. Frank Tenney Johnson’s Antelope Hunters—estimated at $100,000 to $150,000— is an earlier work as he’s moving from illustration to fine art, while Frank Mccarthy’s 1970s Arizona Patrol (est. $25/35,000) is from the prime of his career.
Robert Henri’s Roshanara (est. $100/150,000), a circa 1916 portrait of a dancer, is in the artist’s much sought-after portrait style. Altermann adds, “Robert Henri is known for his portraiture, especially his portraits of Native Americans in New Mexico. While this is not that subject matter, it is typical of his work and a quality portrait that has an
exotic quality to it.”
A work by John Philip Falter, titled Homesteaders, from 1974, also will hit the auction block. The painting, which depicts a Western expansion scene, was commissioned by the consignors and comes with a letter from the artist stating that he felt it was one of his best works. The painting is estimated to fetch between $40,000 and $60,000.
Also available will be Kenneth Riley’s Absaroka, a painting of a Native American with his horse, which is estimated to reach $70,000 to $90,000. “Riley expanded what a Western artist could be in terms of design,” Altermann says.
Another artist who has a similar role as Riley in contemporary art circles is Western modernist Ed Mell. His painting Western Bronc (est. $16/24,000) will cross the block during the auction. “Ed Mell has been a very popular contemporary Western artist for years,” elaborates Altermann. “His market continues to grow and his prices continue to increase. He is part of the Western art modernism movement that continues to gain interest, and he has inspired younger artists with his more modern approach to Western art.”
To keep the most up to date on items coming available in the sale, visit the Altermann Galleries & Auctioneers website, as there will be a session of addendum lots offered on Saturday, August 11, immediately after session three. Other ways to preview the works are to order the catalog by calling (505) 983-1590 or by visiting the Santa Fe showroom beginning mid-july.