LOS ANGELES, CA.- On Tuesday, November 15, 2022 Moran’s had a full day presenting two sales. The second one being the Autumn rendition of their California and American Fine Art sale. The selection featured fresh to market works, many coming from the West and Southwest and represented a wide range of subjects and time periods. Leading the sale was a work by William Wendt, followed by a Theodore Earl Butler painting. Other highlighted artists included: John Marshall Gamble, Colin Campbell Cooper, Margaret Keane, and an impressive collection of Christopher Blossom works.

Willian Wendt was one of the most important artists to live and work in Laguna Beach during his lifetime. His vision, style, and expression created a rigorous and disciplined mix of academicism and impressionism. Lot 2053 presented Wendt’s, So Lone a Lake (Malibou Lake, CA),1940 achieving $53,125 (including buyer’s premium). [PHOTO 1]. The artist was caught trespassing in the area and when he told the park security what he was doing there and showed them his artwork, they granted him a lifetime pass to the area.

Another strong representation of plein air was lot 2042, a work by the post-impressionist painter, Theodore Earl Butler titled, Poplar Trees Along the Epte, 1908. One of many examples that shows Butler’s influence of Monet’s style, this painting garnered $40,625 (including buyer’s premium).

Known for his paintings of the California golden poppies is John Marshall Gamble (1863-1957). He never treated his best-known floral landscapes as such, he saw them as swaths of color that danced across the landscape. Poppies and Lupine Near Sta. Paula, lot 2084 garnered heated bidding with collectors of Gambles work, eventually earning this work a whopping $34,375 (including buyer’s premium).

Lot 2040 was Colin Campbell Cooper’s, Cathedral At Les Martigues, France, 1914. Cooper (1856-1937) was an American Impressionist painter, most renowned for his architectural paintings. Along with his works of skyscrapers in New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago, Cooper was known for his paintings of European landmarks. While in Europe, Cooper became part of the Titanic rescue mission in 1912. He would spend three more years in Europe to paint and explore, creating Cathedral At Les Martigues, France, 1914. Bidders were eager to win this monumental piece of history driving the bidding to $31,250 (including buyer’s premium).

This sale offered three works by the “Big Eyes” artist, Margaret Keane (1927-2022), and lot 2129 presented one of her more famous works, The Berlin Wall, 1964. She created this painting three years after the Berlin Wall was built in August 1961. It exhibits ten small children grouped on the other side of a wall and barbed wire. Keane is placing the viewer not only on the opposite side of the wall from the children, but the most striking part of this work is the children's big eyes looking directly at the viewer. It is haunting yet one of her most compelling images that sold for $22,500 (including buyer’s premium. Originally signed by Walter Keane. His name was painted out by Margaret Keane after the trial of 1985.

Maritime collectors were pleased with the selection of marine-themed masterpieces by artist Christopher Blossom. Along with coming from a family of accomplished artists, Blossom made a name for himself through his passion for history and his unique ability to visualize in three dimensions, recreating scenes from maritime history with a sincerity and feeling that is unequaled among his contemporaries. All four Blossom works featured achieved a cumulative total of $31,250 (including buyer’s premium), the top lot being 2021, Winter Departure, New York Harbor, which sold for $11,875 (including buyer’s premium).

—Brenda Smith, John Moran Auctioneers