Bonhams unveils American Art sale in New York
Edward Henry Potthast (1857–1927), Children at Play, Brighton Beach. Estimate: $150,000 – 250,000
NEW YORK, NY.—
This spring Bonhams will present its live American Art sale on April 23 in New York at its new U.S. flagship location, 111 West 57th Street. Spanning 94 lots, the sale brings together a refined array of historically significant works, from early 19th century to 21st century American artists, including Thomas Wilmer Dewing (1851–1938), Edward Henry Potthast (1857–1927), Norman Rockwell (1894–1978), LeRoy Neiman (1921–2012), and Bob Ross (1942–1995) among others.
“At our new U.S. flagship on West 57th Street, our American Art sale showcases landmark works across key eras and movements, in the category,” commented Aaron Anderson, Specialist, Head of Sale, American Art at Bonhams. “Featuring significant examples by American Tonalists, Impressionists, Regionalists, and key Modernist and Postwar figures, the selection brings together major voices across the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, while the third major offering of Bob Ross works introduces an exciting and culturally rich component. Futhermore, we are incredibly proud to present the private selling exhibition, Embracing Elegance: Selections from the Huber Family Collection, one of the most celebrated American Art collections – beautifully complementing our sale and enhancing Bonhams cultural programming.”
Headlining the sale is Figures with Blossoms, a recently discovered three-panel painted screen masterwork by one of America’s foremost Tonalist painters, Thomas Wilmer Dewing (1851–1938). Estimated at $300,000 – 500,000, the present work stands among Dewing’s most ambitious achievements and has remained in the same family collection for more than 50 years. Portraying three elongated, classically draped female figures set within a softly atmospheric field of white blossoms and diffused green light, Figures with Blossoms is one of only a small group of multi‑panel screens Dewing created at the height of his career and is widely regarded as a landmark in his oeuvre.
Another notable work this season is Children at Play, Brighton Beach by American Impressionist Edward Henry Potthast (1857–1927), estimated at $150,000 – 250,000. Rendered with his signature brilliance in light, color, and movement, the work stands as a radiant example of his celebrated depictions of New York seaside leisure and ranks among Potthast’s most accomplished contributions to American Impressionism. Pennsylvania Impressionist Robert Spencer’s (1879–1931) A River Town, painted circa 1920, is another standout work in the sale. Estimated at $150,000 – 250,000, it exemplifies Spencer’s acclaimed depictions of the working‑class river communities of Bucks County and is distinguished by an exceptional exhibition history across major American institutions.
Other highlights include Norman Rockwell’s (1894–1978) Father and Boy: Church, created as the spring image for Brown & Bigelow’s Four Seasons 1961 calendar, estimated at $100,000 – 150,000; and Thomas Hart Benton’s (1889–1975) Shocking Corn, 1945, estimated at $80,000 – 120,000 and regarded as one of his most compelling interpretations of agricultural labor. Additionally, two monumental works by LeRoy Neiman (1921–2012) will be offered: Bunny Discotheque, a vibrant expressionistic painting that nods to Neiman's long relationship with Playboy, estimated at $100,000 – 150,000; and his 1971 painting Roulette, estimated at $70,000 – 100,000.
The sale will also present the third major offering of works by Bob Ross (1942–1995), presented on behalf of American Public Television (APT), which has pledged to direct 100% of its net proceeds to support public television stations nationwide. The offering comprises four works by the beloved Joy of Painting host, all of which showcase Ross' iconic Wet‑on‑Wet Technique®. Leading the selection is Autumn Images, completed live on-air in 1990 during Season 22 episode 1 of the show, and estimated at $40,000 – 60,000. The remaining three works, all created for Ross’s Joy of Painting instructional books, include: Purple Mountain Range, 1993, estimated at $35,000 – 55,000; Mountain Seclusion, 1990, estimated at $30,000 – 50,000; and River’s Peace, 1991, estimated at $25,000 – 45,000.
From April 13–23, the department will present Embracing Elegance: Selections from the Huber Family Collection, a private selling exhibition featuring 18 works from one of the most admired American art collections. Bringing together pieces featured in landmark 2011 presentations by the Hood Museum of Art and High Museum of Art, the selection is reflective of the Huber family’s refined taste: pastoral landscapes, poetic still lifes, and introspective depictions of women. Anchoring the presentation will be two paintings by one of the foremost American realists of the early twentieth century, John Sloan (1871–1951): Fishing for Lafayettes, 1908, and Tittering Girls, 1915. Alongside Sloan, the exhibition will also feature standout works from other major American artists, including, Thomas Wilmer Dewing (1851–1938), Joseph Rodefer DeCamp (1858–1923), and John Singer Sargent (1856–1925) among others.
