MONROVIA, Calif. – John Moran’s new Studio Auction format has proven a success with buyers. The second Studio Auction of 2016, held on Saturday, July 30, fared well for works estimated across all price points. No single genre was the clear favorite among buyers, with bidders paying equal attention to early California, Western, Modern and Contemporary abstract and figural works. Overall, buyers responded to quality, with wonderful examples by higher tier as well as lesser-known artists performing quite well throughout the evening. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.com.
The top lot for the evening was truly a dark-horse candidate. Indistinctly signed 19th-century Russian School nocturnal depicting a beach scene in a coastal fishing village was assigned a very conservative $500 to $700 estimate. Thanks to multiple online bidders and a number of buyers vying for the painting via telephone, the painting flew to an astounding $33,600 selling price (all prices quoted include Moran’s 20% house buyer’s premium).
Works by listed 20th-century California artists did particularly well. “Colorful Expanse,” a blooming desert landscape by Palm Springs, Calif., artist Paul Grimm (1891-1974) earned a price squarely within estimate, bringing $2,700 (estimate: $2,000 to $3,000). Shortly thereafter, “4th Lake and Mt. Temple Crag” by Robert Clunie (1895-1984 Bishop, Calif.) was brought to the block and earned $5,400.
Other American art highlights included Peter Hayward’s (1905-1993) sunny oil on canvas depiction of a mountainous Hawaiian beachscape with figures. The charming work was expected to bring $400 to $600, but surprised everyone in attendance when it sold for an astounding $3,900 thanks to competing online bidders.
A trio of works by Los Angeles-based contemporary figural painter Wade Reynolds (1929-2011) all performed quite well.. One of Reynolds’s most highly anticipated works depicts a young man in a Los Angeles apartment interior before an open window. The untitled piece was brought to the block with a $1,000 to $1,500 estimate, which was handily outstripped after competition between two auction attendees. The successful buyer took the painting home for $6,000. Attendee buyers were also excited by another contemporary work by Santa Barbara artist Jon Francis (b. 1940) – “Last Bus Out,” depicting a Greyhound bus stop awash with golden late afternoon light, realized $1560 at the block (estimate: $600 to $900).
Western and Native American-genre works found sound footing with Moran’s buyers. Westport, Conn., Western-genre artist John Marchand (1875-1921) was represented in the auction by a diminutive scene of a cowboy shooting at wolves over a ridge in order to protect his herd of cattle. Marchand’s painting brought $3,300, well over the $700 to $900 estimate.
On the more traditional end of the spectrum, British artist Samuel Prout (1783-1852) was represented in the July sale by a diminutive watercolor scene of a vaulted chapel interior with figures praying. Estimated to earn $600 to $800, the work flew to an exceptional $2,040 selling price.
John Moran’s next Studio Auction is scheduled for September 24, 2016. The Studio session will directly follow the Decorative Art Auction, and is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. PT. Bidding will be available absentee and online through LiveAuctioneers.com.
To contact John Moran Auctioneers directly, email info@johnmoran.com or telephone: 626-793-1833.
Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.
