Painter Fernand Leger made his mark alongside the first cubists – Picasso, Braque and Gris – in canvases that more or less banished nature from the scene. However, few Cubists pursued the logic of Modernism more aggressively than Leger. See why his works now sell for more than $13 million to art investors worldwide. Read More +
After shattering attendance records in England, “Norman Rockwell’s America” opened at the Birmingham Museum of Art Sept. 16, 2012. Featuring more than 52 original paintings and all 323 vintage Saturday Evening Post covers, the exhibition visually chronicles the evolving landscape of American culture and society from 1916-1969 and is one of the largest Rockwell exhibitions to ever travel. Read More +
N.C. Wyeth’s monumental oil on canvas painting, ‘The Great Blue Heron’, flew to the top of the results column by surpassing its $100,000 to $125,000 presale estimate and selling for $253,000 at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries’ Aug. 25-26, 2012 sale. Read More +
Tipping in at nearly $4.5 million, James D. Julia Inc., is still celebrating the success of its latest summer auction. More than 3,000 lots changed hands over a four-day period. Highlights included a rare and fine pair of embroideries picturing 100 birds housed within highly elaborate carved and pierced rosewood frames. The pair sold for $86,250. Read More +
An extensive collection of fine art produced by artists at Maine’s Monhegan islands will be featured at auction Aug. 25-26, 2012. Artists have frequented this secluded Maine island over the past 150 years, and their resulting works have been sought after by museums and collectors ever since. Read More +
More than 3,000 lots of fine art and antiques are expected to change hands at James D. Julia’s Aug. 21-24, 2012 auction, the largest in the firm’s history. Among the highlights are 30 folk art weathervanes, 725 paintings and 1,200 lots of Asian art and artifacts. A historical item of an entirely different nature is the actual taxidermy horse’s head used during the rehearsals and filming of the 1970s Oscar winner, “The Godfather”. Acquired from a former employee of Paramount Studios, it now comes with an estimate you can’t refuse of $10,000-20,000. Read More +
An oil on canvas attributed to Hudson River School artist William Hart was reported stolen from the Duck Creek Antique Mall July 21-22 by dealer Mimi Morgan owner of Bryn Sion Antiques of Florence, Ken. The painting has a retail value between $600 and $800. Read More +
Litchfield County Auctions’ summer sale are designed to offer an eclectic mix of traditional antiques and fine art to fit every budget from $50 to $15,000. This year’s sale, offered June 27-July 13, 2012, was different. Lots of antique furniture and decorations featured several top lots. The highest selling item in the sale was a Regency parcel gilt ebonized marble-top gueridon (English, 1810-1820), which sold for $17,400. Read More +
Chicago-based Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will hold its summer auction July 26, 2012 at the firm’s newly opened office at 414 East Mason St., MIlwaukee. Hindman is thrilled to present a selection of nearly a dozen paintings from Francesco Spicuzza (American, 1883-1962), one of Wisconsin’s most prolific artists. He is best remembered for his beach scenes; “McKinley Beach,” 1910, oil-on-board signed lower left “F. Spicuzza” and dated on the verso, is estimated at $700 to $900. Read More +
Three mid-20th century ceramic pitchers by the renowned artist Pablo Picasso are among the nearly 1,400 lots offered at a live and online fine estates auction by Crescent City Auction Gallery of New Orleans. Read More +