NEW YORK – The enduring strength of the American art market was on display and at Christie’s today as two sales, American Sublime: Property from an Important Private Collection and 19th Century American and Western Art totaled $19,230,950, while setting records for three artists. Together, the auctions were 137 percent sold versus low estimates with buyer’s premium and 86 percent sold by lot. Bidding was competitive throughout with bids coming in from six different nations in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. American Sublime: Property from an Important Private Collection opened the day, led by Thomas Cole’s evocative landscape, Mount Chocorua, New Hampshire, which achieved a record for the artist at $1,623,000. The top lot in 19th Century American and Western Art was Martin Johnson Heade’s Magnolias on a Shiny Table which made $1,502,000. Christie’s also set records for Homer Dodge Martin (Price realized: $176,400) and Arnold Friberg (Price realized: $126,000).

The Head of the American Art Department, Tylee Abbott, said, “Today was an exciting moment for historic American Art. Rare and important paintings and sculpture by our nation’s leading artists invigorated collectors both old and new, driving impressive results. We are delighted to once again achieve the highest sale total ever for this sale platform.”

Other highlights from the American Sublime sale included: Raphaelle Peale’s Still Life with Raisin Cake, which brought $567,000;Winter Evening in the Country by Jasper Francis Cropsey, which fetched $403,200; Jane Peterson’s Gloucester Harbor, which made $378,000. 19th Century American and Western Art saw notable results including two landscapes – Thomas Moran’s Grand View Trail and Albert Bierstadt’s A Rest on the Ride – which sold for $1,135,000 each, while Frederic Remington’s bronze, The Mountain Man, made $630,000.  

(Press Release)