Date: Fri 18-Jun-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: MELISS

Quick Words:

Rockwell

Full Text:

Rockwell Sells For $145,000 At Skinner

(with 5 cuts)

BOSTON, MASS. -- "Organ Grinder," an early work by Norman Rockwell, topped

Skinner's auction of American and European paintings and prints on May 14.

From a private collection, the oil painting had originally been acquired from

the artist in 1920, having been published as the cover for Country Gentleman ,

July 31, 1920. Competition for the piece was between two telephone bidders,

one of whom ultimately purchased the work for $145,000.

Highlights in the auction also included "La petit fille," by Emile Munier, a

portrait of a young girl holding a kitten and a doll, and a quintessential

example of French genre painting, that sold on the telephone for $74,000.

A group of marine paintings was led by "Rain and Mist Gloucester Harbor" by

Frederick Childe Hassam, that opened above the low end of the estimate at

$26,000 and sold high for $40,250. "Boats of H.M.S. Diana Capturing American

Pirate Schooner Topaz Macao Roads 8th August 1807," by Thomas Butterworth, and

a view of Gloucester harbor by George Loftus Noyes sold for $28,750 each, and

a seacoast view by Everhardus Koster realized $32,200.

Additional highlight included "Spring Pastures" by John Joseph Enneking,

selling for $29,900, and "Trout, Rod and Reel on a Riverbank" by Walter M.

Brackett for $18,400. Selling at above estimate was "Flying Egrets" by South

Carolina artist Alice Ravenal Huger Smith, which opened well beyond

expectations at $6,000, generating intense bidding from telephones and the

floor, and bringing an impressive $25,300.

There was widespread interest in 25 paintings by Swedish artist Lars Jonsson,

with all proceeds benefiting the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Many of these

works sold well beyond expectations, with examples including "Golden and

Blackbellied Plovers, Monomoy," which rang up $3,450; "Blackcapped Chickadee

in Alder" which reached $3,450; "Saunderling Running," which garnered $3,105;

and "Myles Standish State Forest," which fetched $2,300.

Skinner's next auction featuring American and European paintings and prints

will be the Studio auction, which will be held in Bolton on Thursday, July 1,

and the auction of American and European paintings and prints to be held in

Boston on Friday, September 24.

For information, 978/779-6241.