Freeman’s Auction House in Philadelphia recently hosted a major sale involving American art and Pennsylvania Impressionists. How did the market stand as of June 4?
The numbers trickling in from Freeman’s Auction House suggest the market for American art and Pennsylvania Impressionists is healthy. Hosted on Sunday, June 4, in Philadelphia, the auction featured some incredible works of art. When it was all finished, the auction had totaled $1,155,000 for 83 lots sold and had an 80 percent sell-through rate.
Alasdair Nichol, head of Freeman’s American Art department, said, “This was one of our best attended auctions yet and confirmed Freeman’s status as the premier venues for both private buyers and sellers of Pennsylvania Impressionism.” Among the most coveted works was a painting by Daniel Garber, who attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1899 and later returned there as a teacher. His tenure with the Academy lasted more than 40 years. His thoughtful and sensitive “Portrait of Hervey Allen” sold to a private buyer for $87,500.
Fern Coppedge was another artist whose work enjoyed bidding success. As Freeman’s reports, “Coppedge is the most significant female artist of the Pennsylvania Impressionist movement. Snow-covered landscapes are among her best works, easily identifiable by their brightly-hued and vivaciously rendered depictions of the Bucks County, Pennsylvania towns along the Delaware River.” Five works by Coppedge were available during the sale, four of which hammered above their estimates. “Pigeon Cove” earned $75,000, and “Clearing Off Gloucester Harbor” doubled its estimate when it sold for $32,500.
Other highlights from the sale included works by George Sotter and Edward Redfield. “I am eagerly anticipating our next sale and have already secured a fine, fresh-to-market Redfield winter scene, as well as works by Coppedge,” Alasdair Nichol said.
