Granville Redmond (1871-1935, Los Angeles, Calif.), wildflower landscape with poppies and lupine, oil on canvas. Price realized: $225,000. Moran’s image
MONROVIA, Calif. – Moran’s first California & American Fine Art auction of the year achieved strong prices for fresh-to-market works from around the country. The online auction brought out many new bidders who battled for the fine works of art in the sale. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.
With the launch of the long-awaited “Granville Redmond, The Eloquent Palette” show at the Crocker Art Museum reinvigorating collectors, Moran’s offered a wildflower landscape with poppies and lupine by Redmond. The wildflowers were accented by oak trees and distant foothills and was a favorite heading into the sale. This outstanding example of his work (above) achieved $225,000. Prices quoted include Moran’s 25% buyer’s premium.
Works by women artists achieved high prices at the auction. A stunning painting from Santa Paula-based artist Jessie Arms Botke featuring cockatoos in an avocado tree started the auction off on the right foot, soaring past its $8,000-$12,000 estimate to bring $87,500 (below).
Jessie Arms Botke (1883-1971, Santa Paula, Calif.), cockatoos in an avocado tree, oil and gold leaf on canvasboard. Price realized: $87,500. Moran’s image
A dreamy portrait of a woman in a boat with a parasol by Henriette Mary Shore caused a bidding war as soon as the lot opened, realizing $17,500.
Harriett Frishmuth is prized for her sculptures of women in movement. Crest of the Wave was no exception and brought $11,250.
Harriett Frishmuth (1880-1980, Connecticut), ‘Crest of the Wave,’ patinated bronze on a black marble plinth. Price realized: $11,250. Moran’s image
Scenic vistas captured the imagination during the auction. A stunning work by Florida based artist Albert E. Backus everglades landscape with resting birds under a dramatic partly cloudy sky realized $31,250.
Albert E. Backus (1906-1990, Fort Pierce, Fla.), Everglades with birds, 1989, oil on canvas. Price realized: $31,250. Moran’s image
The busiest lot of the sale was an Alfred R. Mitchell bringing a picturesque Southern California beachscape with caves in the foreground and cottages in the background to life in bright colors, realizing $46,875.
Fleeting moments in time lovingly rendered by California artists shone in the sale. A still life with hollyhocks and bumblebees captured mid-bloom when the flowers are most vibrant is a triumph from Paul de Longpre and brought $25,000.
Paul De Longpre (1855-1911, Hollywood, Calif.), still life with hollyhocks and bees, oil on canvas. Price realized: $25,000. Moran’s image
A moody nocturne of San Francisco with distant searchlight from Jules Page realized $10,000. An Adriatic Harbor scene by Edgar Alwin Payne, a favorite subject of the artist, captured that perfect sunset moment awash in terra-cotta hues. The work caused a bidding war when it hit the block, selling over its high estimate for $43,750.
Edgar Alwin Payne (1883-1947, Hollywood, Calif.), ‘Adriatic Harbor,’ oil on canvas laid to canvas. Price realized: $43,750. Moran’s image
Moran’s is currently consigning for their fall California & American Fine Art auction, which is already filling up with more finds.
View top auction results on LiveAuctioneers here: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/pages/recent-auction-sales/
