Swann marks 70th anniversary of its first photography sale, Feb. 10

Ansel Adams, ‘Oak Tree, Snowstorm,Yosemite Valley,’ est. $20,000-$30,000
Ansel Adams, ‘Oak Tree, Snowstorm,Yosemite Valley,’ est. $20,000-$30,000
Ansel Adams, ‘Oak Tree, Snowstorm,Yosemite Valley,’ est. $20,000-$30,000

NEW YORK — Seventy years ago, Swann Galleries held the first auction dedicated to photography in the United States. This 1952 auction was astonishingly early for a sale devoted to a medium then just 113 years old and still finding its artistic footing in the marketplace. Seven decades later, however, the landscape for this diverse and innovative medium has grown dramatically. On Thursday, February 10, Swann will hold a sale of Fine Photographs marking this achievement. The specially curated sale will celebrate the history of the market for photography at auction while exploring the medium’s future. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Palm Springs museum to exhibit Leon Polk Smith’s ‘Hard Edge’ work

Leon Polk Smith, ‘Red Blue Orange Ellipses,’ 1961. Paint on canvas, 47.5in diameter. © Leon Polk Smith Foundation. Photo credit: SITE Photography
Leon Polk Smith, ‘Red Blue Orange Ellipses,’ 1961. Paint on canvas, 47.5in diameter. © Leon Polk Smith Foundation. Photo credit: SITE Photography
Leon Polk Smith, ‘Red Blue Orange Ellipses,’ 1961. Paint on canvas, 47.5in diameter. © Leon Polk Smith Foundation. Photo credit: SITE Photography

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – Palm Springs Art Museum has announced an exhibition featuring the work of the innovative painter, Leon Polk Smith (American, 1906-1996), whose significant contributions to 20th-century art are becoming increasingly recognized. The exhibition, Leon Polk Smith: 1945-1962, will run from March 26 to August 28 in the museum’s main downtown location.

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Crowned heads rule in RR’s Feb. 9 Autographs & Artifacts sale

One-page King Henry VIII signed document from 1533, est. $35,000-$40,000
One-page King Henry VIII signed document from 1533, est. $35,000-$40,000
One-page King Henry VIII signed document from 1533, est. $35,000-$40,000

BOSTON – Remarkable documents and other ephemera directly tied to royalty are featured in RR Auction‘s February 9 Fine Autographs and Artifacts sale. Boasting more than 1,000+ lots, the auction is highlighted by royal autographs from the Tudor era to the present day — including King Henry VII, King Henry VIII, Catherine the Great, the Romanov princesses, Queen Elizabeth II, and Prince Charles. View the fully illustrated catalog on LiveAuctioneers.

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