NEW YORK, NY.- July 23 marks the 31st Anniversary of the
Coeur d’Alene Art Auction. With over $230,000,000 in sales over the last ten years, the Fine Western and American Art auction is certain to be the high point of the Western auction world and online bidding will take place only on Bidsquare.
The Coeur d’Alene Art Auction is known for selling the highest quality Western paintings and sculpture from historical and contemporary artists and this year’s sale will be no exception. Long known as the market leader for Western master Charles M. Russell, the 2016 auction features over 20 works by the artist, including a major oil and one of the rarest Russell bronzes ever to come to auction. Headlining the offerings will be one of Russell’s most iconic paintings, The Tenderfoot. Estimated at $700,000-1,000,000, the oil painting has been in a single-family collection for over 100 years and comes fresh to the market. Also coming from a long-time family collection, The Spirit of Winter ($300,000-500,000) is one of Russell’s rarest bronzes. Additional works include When Sioux and Blackfoot Meet ($300,000-500,000), Pablo Buffalo Drive ($200,000-300,000), A Bronc Twister ($200,000-300,000) and more.
A fine selection of works by Frank Tenney Johnson will be featured this year headlined by Renegade Apaches ($250,000-350,000). The magnificent painting was featured on the cover of the book Frank Tenney Johnson & the American West and was featured in the prestigious National Academy of Design in 1926. Other offerings by the artist include Cowboy ($150,000-250,000) and Land Beyond the Law ($80,000-120,000).
Additional important paintings include two one-owner masterpieces by E. William Gollings, Turning The Lead ($150,000-250,000) and The Red Man’s Directions ($100,000-150,000), William R. Leigh’s An Upset ($250,000-350,000), Edgar Payne Narrows, Canyon de Chelly ($150,000-250,000), and a pair of the most famous works ever painted by Olaf Wieghorst, Navajo Madonna and The Navajo ($150,000-250,000).
Taos artists will be well represented with major works by Walter Ufer, Eanger Irving Couse, Joseph H. Sharp, Victor Higgins and Leon Gaspard. Ufer’s Sundown ($600,000-900,000) is a significant work fresh from a private collection and was originally owned by Carter Henry Harrison Jr., former mayor of Chicago.
Albert Bierstadt is one of the most highly sought-after early American artists and Coeur d’Alene has two extremely high quality examples this year with Yosemite Valley Looking toward Cathedral Rocks ($150,000-250,000) and North Coast Indians ($100,000-200,000). Additional American works include pieces by Thomas Hill, Thomas Moran, Jessie Arms Botke and Sydney Laurence.
Carl Rungius has always been a mainstay of the Coeur d’Alene Art Auction with a long string of record breaking sales. This year a major one-owner collection includes Rams on the Alert ($200,000-300,000), Bull Moose ($200,000-300,000) and Happy Valley Rams ($50,000-70,000). A very scarce set of 41 Rungius etchings ($150,000-250,000) will also be sold. View the full catalog for additional historical sporting art.
Contemporary Western masters make up a large part on the auction and once again are headlined by a major work by Howard Terpning. Blackfeet Storyteller is expected to bring $500,000-750,000 and will be joined by others.
Bob Kuhn’s work is well represented with his strongest offerings in years. Over ten paintings will be featured including Siberian Tiger: King of Cats ($100,000-150,000), Turning the Herd ($80,000-120,000) and more.
The Coeur d'Alene Art Auction has been hailed The Biggest and Most Successful Auction of Western Art by the Wall Street Journal and was named One of the Top Auction Houses Worldwide by Blouin Art+Auction. Fine Western and American art collectors will be looking forward to this sale.
