NYC Day-Trip: Christie's and Sotheby's

Saturday, January 13, 2024 - I have been feeling a little un-sophisticated/un-arted these days, so I hit Christie's and Sotheby's websites - they both have EXCELLENT auctions this month of 19th Century American Artists. The "Hudson River School" is what got me started on this stuff over a decade ago. Both Auction Houses have a "Viewing Dates" today, so I made a date with Wendy and we headed south!

You know the drill - up early, and this time we left the house at about 6:15. Very easy drive through Massachusetts and Connecticut, down the Saw Mill and Henry Hudson Parkways, then down the west side of Manhattan, next to the Hudson River. Exit on West 50th Street, and over to our SpotHero parking at 55 W. 48th St, which cost $30.60 for 12 hours (at 11 AM):

Walked around the block to Christie's:

So, I wound up taking 45 pictures at Christie's - my 5 favorites are:

Thomas Moran - "Afterglow, Green River, Wyoming" (20 x 30 in.), 1918 oil:

(estimate $1.2 mm - 1.8 mm)

Thomas Hill - "Yosemite Valley" (71.25 x 95.5 in.), 1898 oil:

(estimate $100,000 - 150,000)

Henry Roderick Newman - "San Giorgio Maggiore and Santa Maria della Salute from the Giardino Publico", 1883 watercolor:

(estimate $3,000 - 5,000)

William Stanley Haseltine - "Off Newport, Rhode Island", 1863 oil:

(estimate $20,000 - 30,000)

Frederic Edwin Church - "The Valley of Lebanon", 1869 oil:

(Private Sales - Estimate upon request)

This was our walk around Christie's:

We picked up our car at 12:20, then drove crosstown to my second SpotHero of the day - 315 E. 70th St, which cost $22.16 for 6 hours (at 12:30). When planning this trip, I was thinking about parking at Rockefeller Center and taking a cab back-and-forth to Sotheby's, but then I realized that with taxis at $20 a pop (at least), it makes mure sense the do a 2nd SpotHero. We had lunch at a favorite - Café Luka:

Walking into Sotheby's, it is always nice to know that what you are looking for is "On Display"

I wound up taking 47 pictures at Sotheby's - my 5 favorites are:

Thomas Moran - "Green River, Wyoming" (13 by 20 in.), 1883 oil:

(estimate $800,000 - 1,200,000)

Winslow Homer - "Looking Over The Cliff", 1882 watercolor:

(estimate $800,000 - 1,200,000)

Sanford Robinson Gifford - "The Falls of Tivoli", 1869 oil:

(estimate $30,000 - 50,000)

Alfred Thompson Bricher - "A Bright Afternoon", c. 1885 oil:

(estimate $60,000 - 80,000)

William Louis Sonntag - "Millbrook Near Shelburne, New Hampshire", c. 1869 oil:

(estimate $8,000 - 12,000)

Other adventurous items at Sotheby's include Real Estate and Fashion:

This was our walk around Sotheby's:

Then it was time to head home with my Beautiful Bride.

Note from the Future - these 10 pieces sold for:

Lot 213 - Thomas Moran - "Afterglow, Green River, Wyoming" - $2,228,000
(estimate $1.2 mm - 1.8 mm)

Lot 246 - Thomas Hill - "Yosemite Valley" - $189,000
(estimate $100,000 - 150,000)

Lot 298 - Henry Roderick Newman - "San Giorgio Maggiore and Santa Maria della Salute from the Giardino Publico" - $4,032
(estimate $3,000 - 5,000)

Lot 21B - William Stanley Haseltine - "Off Newport, Rhode Island" - $$52,920
(estimate $20,000 - 30,000)

Private Sales - Frederic Edwin Church - "The Valley of Lebanon" - Private Sales price not released
(Estimate on Request)

Lot 14 - Thomas Moran - "Green River, Wyoming" - $1,451,500
(estimate $800,000 - 1,200,000)

Lot 32 - Winslow Homer - "Looking Over The Cliff" - $762,000
(estimate $800,000 - 1,200,000)

Lot 20 - Sanford Robinson Gifford - "The Falls of Tivoli" - $38,100
(estimate $30,000 - 50,000)

Lot 70 - Alfred Thompson Bricher - "A Bright Afternoon" - not sold
(estimate $60,000 - 80,000)

Lot 37 - William Louis Sonntag - "Millbrook Near Shelburne, New Hampshire" - $6,985
(estimate $8,000 - 12,000)

I'm no expert on art, but it seems to me that, at this time, American Art is under-valued. If you have the funds, and you know what you like, you can get some very good deals in this market, for artists "known" and "unknown". Thank You God for this wonderful art/adventure day!

Music for today:

Tears For Fears - Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82-92), 1992:

Neil Young - Harvest Moon, 1992:

The National - Trouble Will Find Me, 2013 6th studio album:

Traffic - Smiling Phases, 1991 2-cds compliation album:

Shameless Plug: if you enjoy this blog, you may like my other one about Hiking the 4,000 footers in New Hampshire/Vermont/Maine/New York:
hyperlink: dixonheadingnorth
http://dixonheadingnorth.blogspot.com/