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Rago auction posts record prices for modern, contemporary artists

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
Julian Stanczak (American/Polish, b. 1928), ‘Walking Shadows,’ 1962, poly/tempera on canvas, 68 1/2 x 53 1/8 inches. Rago Arts and Auction Center image
Julian Stanczak (American/Polish, b. 1928), ‘Walking Shadows,’ 1962, poly/tempera on canvas, 68 1/2 x 53 1/8 inches. Rago Arts and Auction Center image

 

LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. – Rago Arts and Auction Center’s fine art auctions brought in $2.43 million on Saturday, Nov. 5. Lot 350, Julian Stanczak’s Walking Shadows (above) fetched $93,750, the highest price of the day. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.com.

Many of the works sold soared far above estimate, including several by Mexican artists Miguel and Rosa Covarrubias from the collection of Adriana Williams, most notably Miguel Covarrubias’s Bathing in the River (below), which sold for $40,650 against an estimate of $12,000-18,000.

 

Miguel Covarrubias (Mexican, 1904-1957) ‘Bathing in the River,’ watercolor and gouache on paper, 10 1/2 x 8 3/4 inches. Price realized: $40,650. Rago Arts and Auction Center image
Miguel Covarrubias (Mexican, 1904-1957) ‘Bathing in the River,’ watercolor and gouache on paper, 10 1/2 x 8 3/4 inches. Price realized: $40,650. Rago Arts and Auction Center image

 

Other top sellers came from the Allan Stone Project, including Lorraine Shemesh’s Exhale (below) which sold for $46,875 against an estimate of $15,000-25,000 and an untitled sculpture by Ousmane Sow (Lot 570) which sold for $46,875 against an estimate of $15,000-25,000.

 

Lorraine Shemesh (American, b. 1949), ‘Exhale,’ 1995, oil on canvas, 69 1/8 x 80 5/8 inches. Price realized: $46,875. Rago Arts and Auction Center image
Lorraine Shemesh (American, b. 1949), ‘Exhale,’ 1995, oil on canvas, 69 1/8 x 80 5/8 inches. Price realized: $46,875. Rago Arts and Auction Center image

 

Also of note: Lots 585 (below) and 586, illustrations by artist and author Chris Van Allsburg, which sold for $53,125 and $40,625, respectively, against estimates of $3,000-5,000.

 

Chris Van Allsburg (American, b. 1949), ‘The Wreck of the Zephyr,’ 1981, colored pencil on paper, 17 1/4 x 26 1/2 inches. Price realized: $53,125. Rago Arts and Auction Center image
Chris Van Allsburg (American, b. 1949), ‘The Wreck of the Zephyr,’ 1981, colored pencil on paper, 17 1/4 x 26 1/2 inches. Price realized: $53,125. Rago Arts and Auction Center image

 

Lot 68, M.C. Escher’s Castle in the Air (below), came to Rago during a free valuation day and sold for $36,250 against an estimate of $6,000-8,000.

 

M.C. Escher (Dutch, 1898-1972), ‘Castle in the Air,’ 1928, woodcut, 24 1/2 x 15 inches. Price realized: $36,250. Rago Arts and Auction Center image
M.C. Escher (Dutch, 1898-1972), ‘Castle in the Air,’ 1928, woodcut, 24 1/2 x 15 inches. Price realized: $36,250. Rago Arts and Auction Center image

 

Lot 661, an untitled work by Jacob El Hanani, which sold for $36,250 against an estimate of $5,000-7,000, an auction record for the artist; and Lot 507, Martin Barre’s 60-T-15 (below), which sold for $75,000 against an estimate of $20,000-30,000.

 

Martin Barré (French, 1924-1993), ‘60-T-15,’ 1960; oil on canvas, 31 7/8 x 25 1/2 inches. Rago Arts and Auction Center image
Martin Barré (French, 1924-1993), ‘60-T-15,’ 1960; oil on canvas, 31 7/8 x 25 1/2 inches. Rago Arts and Auction Center image

 

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