PHILADELPHIA — Dr. Richard J. Wattenmaker (1941-2017) was one of the United States’ most prominent art historians, curators, collectors, and champions for the artists he felt deserved more recognition. One of those artists was William J. Glackens (1870-1938), a professional illustrator who made the jump to painting, only to be ignored by the art establishment. When he and seven fellow illustrators mounted their own exhibition in 1908 after being snubbed by the more conservative National Academy of Art, the group caused a seismic sensation in the art world, and they were known thereafter as ‘The Eight.’ Their focus on daily life, tenements, and urban street scenes became a vanguard of the emerging art scene in the early 20th century.
Freeman’s Hindman has been selected to liquidate Wattenmaker’s lifetime collection in a 244-lot sale scheduled for Sunday, September 22. The complete catalog is now open for review and bidding at LifeAuctioneers.
Like most American artists of the late 19th century, Glackens studied in Europe before returning home to begin his career. He settled into illustration, and was highly successful, with his works appearing in the New York World newspaper and McClure’s magazine, the latter of which assigned him to cover the Spanish-American War in Cuba. Glackens also did work for Scribner’s and The Saturday Evening Post.
Being an art historian, Dr. Wattenmaker wrote several books, including The Art of William Glackens, so it is only fitting his collection boast ten Glackens originals. They include both illustrations as well as full paintings. The sale’s top-estimated Glackens lot — and having the sale’s second-highest estimate — is Bathers, Walker’s Pond (New Hampshire) dating to around 1922. The 12 by 16in oil on canvas laid to board bears a posthumous ‘W.G. by E.G.’ stamp, referring to Glackens’ widow Edith. The work is estimated at $40,000-$60,000.
The Wattenmaker sale’s leading lot is by Giorgio de Chirico (1888-1978), the Italian artist best remembered for founding the Metaphysical School and its influence on Surrealism. Horses of the Hellespont is an oil on canvas bearing the ‘G. de Chirico’ signature. The undated piece measures 15.25 by 18.25 and its evocative equine subject matter is certainly a driver of its strong $50,000-$80,000 estimate.
