Old Masters to modern art ready to hang in May 8 auction

NEW YORK – Original works of art will be going up for bid Wednesday, May 8, in a Jasper52 online auction titled “Old Masters to Modern Art Oil Paintings.” Art lovers can choose from 78 paintings having estimates ranging from $350 to $22,000. Offered are paintings from Italian, French and British schools of art. Subjects include portraits of famous leaders, saints, women of nobility and the common man. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.

An enormous 19th century classical landscape depicting the Old Testament story of Hagar being visited by an angel could well be the top lot in the auction (above). The Italian School painting is from a private collection in Germany and was likely done by a follower of Claude Lorrain (French, 1600-1682). In this biblical narrative, which appears in Genesis 21:15–19, Hagar and her son Ishmael are expelled from Abraham’s house and wander in the wilderness for days. Having run out of water and fearing for her son’s life, Hagar kneels to pray. An angel appears to her and says, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” She opens her eyes and sees a well that provides water for her dying son. She fills her empty flask with water and returns to the boy to revive him. The painting, which measures 49 by 62 inches framed, is expected to sell for $18,000-$22,000.

John Constable (British, 1776-1837) featured Dedham Mill in Essex, England, several times in his paintings during the late 1810s and early 1820s. A painting offered in the auction is similar to the works of Constable and shares many similarities with his famous work, Dedham Mill.” The unsigned artwork offered in the auction was most likely done by a close follower of Constable. This period painting (est. $6,000-$7,000) was previously with a private collection in the Southwest of England.

Return of the Guns depicts the end of a shooting party after a sporting day in the field. This fine, large-scale Victorian oil painting on canvas is by the celebrated British artist John Charlton (1849-1917) and is signed and dated 1885. Charlton was born at Bamburgh, Northumberland, and received his first drawing lessons from his father. At the suggestion of Joseph Crawhal, he enrolled as a pupil at the goverment School of Art under William Bell Scott. Charlton settled permanently in London and exhibited at the Royal Academy. Later he concentrated on portrait, animals, figurative, battle scenes and landscape painting.

A beautiful oil painting of Le Pont Marie, a bridge that crosses the Seine in Paris, is by Jacques Bouyssou (French, 1926-1997). The 300-foot-long stone bridge was opened in 1635.

Another modern Parisian scene in the auction is on oil painting by Francois Gall (Hungarian, 1912-1987), which measures 28 by 34 inches framed.

More than a dozen portraits are offered in the auction, highlighted by Francois Flameng’s 1904 Lady in a Black Dress, which measures 38 by 31 inches in an oval format. The highly successful French artist captures the subject, a distinguished woman, against a subtle gray background. The painting, which is so evocative of its era, has a $6,000-$7,000 estimate. A portrait of a lady dated 1907, by this artist, sold in June 2018 for £314,000 in the UK (source: Artprice).

Additional portraits include Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother (1986) by Mara McGregor and a British School profile of Prime Minister Winston Churchill on the bridge of a World War II battleship.

Jasper52 will hold the Old Masters to Modern Art Oil Paintings online auction Wednesday, May 8, starting at 4 p.m. Eastern time.