Birge Harrison painting brings $141,000 in Stamford An oil-on-canvas painting of Manhattan on a snowy day by the late Philadelphia artist Birge Harrison sold for $141,000 at the 20th annual New Year's Day sale held by Stamford Auction in Stamford, Conn
News-Antique.com - Nov 30,-0001 - SNOWY MANHATTAN SCENE BY AMERICAN ARTIST BIRGE HARRISON
(1854-1929) REALIZES $141,000 AT STAMFORD AUCTION'S JAN. 1st SALE
(Stamford, Conn.) - An oil-on-canvas depiction of Manhattan on a snowy day by the renowned Philadelphia artist Birge (Lovell) Harrison (1854-1920) sold for $141,000 at the 20th annual New Year's Day Sale held by Stamford Auction. The painting hammered for $120,000, but realized $141,000 after a 17.5% buyer's premium was applied. Prices quoted include a buyer's premium.
Mr. Harrison, whose works are highly collectible, was born in Philadelphia in 1854. He received early instruction at the prestigious Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. In 1876 he met and befriended John Singer Sargent, who recommended Mr. Harrison get further schooling in Paris. Mr. Harrison left for France in 1874 and studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, where he refined his style.
The weather on New Year's Day in Connecticut wasn't nearly as wintry as the scene in Harrison's painting. “It was unseasonably warm, and that definitely helped boost attendance,” said Kathleen Keating of Stamford Auction.”The floor was packed right through to the end of the sale, which turned into a marathon that technically didn't end until January 2nd -- at 12:06 am.”
More than 700 bidders registered for the event. A trio of auctioneers worked in tandem to sell over 125 lots per hour. When it was all over, about 1,500 lots had changed hands, combining for more than $2.25 million in gross sales. “We had a record number of private bidders in attendance,” Ms. Keating remarked, “and many more participated through phone and Internet bidding (via eBay Live).
Fine art led the way, bringing strong prices all day long. A work by Arthur Garfield Dove (1880-1946) changed hands for $97,750. Mr. Dove was born in Canandaigua, in upstate New York, and is credited as being the first innovative abstract painter in America. His general method was to make watercolor sketches outdoors, which he'd later adapt to oil paintings indoors, in his studio.
A group of works by the Polish-born American artist Arthur Szyk (1894-1951) sold for a combined $90,850. Mr. Szyk worked in the 20th century, but in the style of 16th century miniaturist painters. He's best known for as a political artist. During World War II, his caricatures and cartoons ran in magazines like Time and Esquire. Eleanor Roosevelt praised his patriotism and artistic skills.
A modern painting by the Spanish-born artist Rafael Canogar (born 1935) brought $86,250. Mr. Canogar is one of the best-known contemporary Spanish painters and printmakers. His artwork can be found in many of the world's leading museums. He trained under the master artist Vasquez Diaz, and at the Circulo de Bellas Artes in Madrid. His style is one of abstract informalism.
An oil-on-board by the Russian artist Constantin Korovin (1861-1939) hammered for $57,500. Mr. Korovin was brought up in an artistic environment and received drawing and painting lessons at childhood. But he found his true calling in 1885, when he went to Paris and was exposed to the
