Los Angeles, CA— On Tuesday, November 14th, 2023, John Moran Auctioneers will present their Fall California & American Fine Art auction starting at noon PDT. The 166-lot selection will feature fresh-to-market artworks from both private and public collections throughout California and the Southwest. Leading the sale are works by early American artists, Edgar Alwin Payne, Gerald Cassidy, Maurice Brown, Raymond Dabb Yelland, Joe Duncan Gleason, Grandville Redmond, Julian Onderdonk, William Slaughter, Hanson Duvall Puthuff, Sam Hyde Harris, and Conrad Buff. With a wide range of subjects and time periods represented, this sale has something for every California and American collection.
Raymond Dabb Yelland (1848-1900), “Mendocino Coast” $20,000-30,000
Four of the most anticipated lots will feature works by Edgar Alwin Payne (1883-1947), one of the United States’ preeminent Impressionist painters. Payne grew up in Missouri but spent most of his career captivating the majestic scenery of the West. He also loved to travel and captured the sparkling waters of Italy in his work, “The Water Front, Sottomarina, Italy”, estimated $30,000-50,000. Other Payne works offered in this sale will include his ocean painting, “Surf at Laguna”, with a $30,000-50,000 estimate as well as a couple depicting the Sierras.
Another impressive Southwestern work is Church in New Mexico, by Gerald Cassidy. Cassidy (1879-1934) was an early 20th century artist, muralist, and designer who was born in Kentucky and studied in New York. In 1912, he moved to Santa Fe, where he painted Church in New Mexico, estimated $25,000-35,000.
An American artist who became known for his Impressionist landscapes of Southern California was Maurice Braun (1877-1941). Braun was born in Hungary, but by the age of four he and his family had migrated to the United States, settling in New York City. It was there that he established himself as a figure and portrait painter, but in 1909 he left for California. This sale will feature four of his works, one being, “Morning Sun, San Diego Bay”, with an estimate of $20,000-30,000.
Conrad Buff (1886-1975), Butte landscape $3,000-5,000
Like Braun, Raymond Dabb Yelland was an American landscape painter who came to the United States as a young child. He grew up in New Jersey, and after serving in the Civil War, studied at the National Academy of Design in New York. Just one year later, in 1873, he was hired as faculty member at the first women’s college west of the Rocky Mountains and settled in Oakland, CA. There, he started to specialize in painting the seashore and mountains of Northern California. Making its way to the block will be “Mendocino Coast”, estimated $20,000-30,000.
Highlighting Southern California art is Joe Duncan Gleason, an American engraver, illustrator, and painter who became the “leader of the ultraconservative school” in Los Angeles, CA. His work, “The Beautiful Bay of Avalon” will be offered with a $12,000-18,000 estimate. Avalon is the only city on Catalina Island, in the California Channel Islands, and is the southernmost city in Los Angeles County.
Other noteworthy California artists presented in this auction are Granville Redmond and Hanson Duvall Puthuff. Granville Redmond (1871-1935) was an American landscape painter and exponent of Tonalism and California Impressionism. His work, “Landscape with eucalyptus groves”, estimated $12,000-18,000, is an example of Tonalism—painted in an overall tone of colored atmosphere or mist with dark, neutral hues such as gray, brown, or blue. A landscape painter and muralist, Hanson Duvall Puthuff (1875-1972) worked as a commercial artist painting billboards in Los Angeles for 23 years, while painting landscapes in his spare time. In 1926, he stopped doing commercial art to devote all his time to fine art and exhibitions, eventually becoming nationally famous for his lyric interpretations of the Southern California deserts. This sale will offer his 1930 work, “Sociable Solitude”, with an estimate of $10,000-15,000.
No California and American Fine Art sale would be complete without works by Sam Hyde Harris and Conrad Buff. Estimated $4,000-6,000, “Mountain Retreat” by Harris (1889-1977) depicts a stand-alone home beneath a couple of tall, green trees. Butte landscape by Conrad Buff (1886-1975) is a strong example of the artist’s great use of bold colors, valued at $3,000-5,000.
Also included in this auction are standout works by Julian Onderdonk, William Slaughter, George Inness, Grace Carpenter Hudson, Peter Ellenshaw, Marion Kavanagh Wachtel, and William Ritschel.
—Brenda Smith, John Moran Auctioneers
Edgar Alwin Payne (1883-1947), “The Water Front, Sottomarina, Italy” $30,000-50,000
“Payne grew up in Missouri but spent most of his career captivating the majestic scenery of the West. He also loved to travel and captured the sparkling waters of Italy in his work, “The Water Front, Sottomarina, Italy”, estimated $30,000-50,000.”
Upcoming Auctions
John Moran Auctioneers is finishing their 2023 lineup with the California and American Fine Art auction, Tuesday, November 14th, followed by the Art of the American West sale, Wednesday, November 15th. Be sure to mark your calendars for these upcoming auctions so you don’t miss out on the action, and the treasures!
California and American Fine Art: Tuesday, November 14th | 12:00 pm PDT
Art of the American West: Wednesday, Nov. 15th | 12:00 pm PDT
Modern + Contemporary Fine Art: Tuesday, Nov. 21st | 12:00 pm PDT
Fine Jewelry and Watches: Tuesday, December 5th | 12:00 pm PDT
20th Century Photography: Wednesday, December 6th | 10:00 am PDT
The Collection of Frederick W. Davis – Part 1: Wed., Dec. 6th | 12:00 pm PDT
Latin American Art + Design: Thursday, December 7th | 12:00 pm PDT
For upcoming highlights, online catalogues, and more information on these sales, visit Moran’s website: www.johnmoran.com and follow us on social media: @johnmoran_auctioneers. Along with our website, bidding is now available online via Moran’s new mobile app, Moran Mobile, available on both iOS and Android operating systems. You may also choose to bid by phone or absentee.
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