FRANKLIN, Mass. – Three oil and enamel paintings attributed to renowned American artist Mark Rothko (1903-1970) – two untitled abstract compositions and one untitled (Blue Square) – all framed, signed verso and dated 1948 – carry estimates of $100,000-$200,000 each in Woodshed Art Auctions’ Prestige Signature Collection auction ending Nov. 1. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

“Considering we were assembling an auction of small-scale paintings and drawings, it was a surprise to have three rather large Rothko paintings delivered from a Peruvian estate,” said Bruce Wood, owner of Woodshed Art Auctions. “We’re lucky that the former owner saved a few receipts, and they can be traced back to the 1960s. Paperwork like that is key when estimating.”

Wood added, “One of the exciting things about these paintings is their 1948 date, when Rothko was formalizing his mature style. One even has evidence of being done over an older abstract composition, which falls in line with reports of his experimenting to find his new direction, and perhaps destroying his old work in the process. We expect all three works will do quite well.”

Prestige Signature Collection auctions feature artworks (most of them attributions) by many of the most famous modern masters, but at attractive price points.

The Nov. 1 catalog features works attributed to artists such as Edgar Degas, Andre Masson, Pablo Picasso, Egon Schiele, Vincent Van Gogh, Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol and Marc Chagall, as well as original paintings signed Sam Francis, Joan Mitchell, Le Corbusier, Max Ernst, Bernard Buffet, Franz Kline and Fernand Leger.

A small oil painting attributed to Claude Monet (French, 1840-1926) is certain to attract attention. The diminutive tempera on paper work – just 11½ inches by 16½ inches in the frame – is titled Waterlilies (below) and has a presale estimate of $200,000-$250,000. Another Monet attribution, also small at 8 inches by 10¾ inches, unframed and titled Studio Boat, should hit $60,000-$80,000.

Fans of Van Gogh (1853-1890) will be treated to several attributed drawings and gouache studies by the Dutch master. These will include the following:

• An unframed tempera on paper, titled The Raising of Lazarus, signed “Vincent” and accompanied by a certificate of examination by a gallery in Italy (est. $60,000-$80,000).
• An ink on paper, artist signed and titled Tree Study, possibly a preliminary sketch for Van Gogh’s famous painting, Olive Trees with Yellow Sun and Sky (est. $40,000-$60,000).
• A signed brown ink drawing on paper of a peasant woman digging, possibly a study for a similarly titled finished work done in Saint-Remy, France in 1890 (est. $30,000-$50,000).

Drawings and painted studies from the pop art icon Andy Warhol (American, 1928-1987) will include an unframed mixed media drawing on white paper titled Elvis, depicting the rock ’n’ roll legend as a gunslinger, felt-pen signed on the image (est. $80,000-$100,000); and an unframed mixed media drawing on paper titled Cow, artist-signed in pencil front and back (est. $40,000-$60,000).

An unframed tempera on paper attributed to Pablo Picasso (Spanish/French, 1881-1973), titled Woman Dressing Hair (below), likely a study for Picasso’s 1940 painting of the same title, artist signed, should bring $60,000-$70,000. Also going up for bid will be a mixed media work on paper attributed to Willem de Kooning (Dutch-American, 1904-1997), titled Woman, signed front/back (est. $50,000-$60,000).

An oil and enamel on canvas attributed to Jean-Michel Basquiat (American, 1960-1988), untitled (Two Heads), artist signed and dated 1981, previously in private collections in Spain and Peru, has an estimate of $100,000-$200,000.

It should be pointed out that many of the works in this auction – most of them, in fact – are listed as “attributed” because they have a partial or missing provenance. Attributions and identifications are based in part on Woodshed Art Auctions’ careful study, but they are not guaranteed. Unless stated otherwise in the catalog description, no further provenance or information is available.

For details contact Bruce Wood of Woodshed Art Auctions 508-533-6277 or bruce@woodshedartauctions.com.

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