Maine Antique Digest March 2015

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Maine Antique Digest, March 2015 31-A
- AUCTION -
published in 1928. This partic-
ular scene captures a three-heat
match race between a horse from
Virginia, ridden by a jockey in
red silks, and the local favorite
horse from North Carolina, rid-
den in the second and third heats
by Johnny, the novel’s protago-
nist (in yellow).”
Artwork and sculpture that
had nothing to do with horse
racing and everything to do with
the grace and beauty of sporting
animals were also part of this
Keeneland and Cross Gate Gal-
lery event. Another image that
did not meet reserve but which
sold after the auction was Ponies
in a Sand Pit 1910-1911, a 28¼" x
30¼" oil on canvas by Sir Alfred
James Munnings (British, 1878-
1959). It realized $253,000 (est.
$275,000/325,000). According
to Cross Gate, the artist painted
several similar images of ponies
in a sandpit during the summers
of 1908 through 1911. The gal-
lery believes that the painting
offered here was done in a sand-
pit near Hoxne, Suffolk. Mun-
nings wrote in his 1950 mem-
oir: “I knew I could not do it
today. I had neither the energy
to get ponies to a place forty
miles away, make arrangements
for them, nor to place a canvas
and easel each day in the heat in
the same place in the sandpit.”
While that memory evokes the
hardship Munnings faced, he
also clearly reveled in the beauty
there, stating, “The shadows of
the pit were warm and glowing;
the gravel bright red and gold in
the sun; scarlet poppies, margue-
rite daisies and masses of white
flowers all about.”
Un taureau et un ours (Bull
and Bear) by Isidore Jules
Bonheur (French, 1827-1901),
brought $138,000. This bronze
demonstrates Bonheur’s mas-
tery. Why this subject matter?
It has been tossed around that
this sculpture represents the
Crimean War between England
(the bull) and Russia (the bear).
This bronze may also represent
the U.S. stock market, especially
since its twin cast resided in the
Luncheon Club of the New York
Stock Exchange from 1926 until
2006 when the club was closed.
Cross Gate Gallery noted,
“Every day, superstitious traders
would rub the bull on the horns
and genitals for luck, so much so
that the patina in those areas dif-
fers from the rest of the bronze.”
The oil on canvas of three Lop-
Eared Rabbits, signed and dated
1851 by Sir John F. Herring Sr.
(British, 1795-1865), sold after
the auction for $21,850, while
Ducks and Ducklings, signed and
dated by Herring, was purchased
for $36,800, also after the sale
concluded. Sporting? Yes, if one
were looking at rabbits and ducks
through the sight of a shotgun.
No one could deny the sport-
ing aspect of the bronze of Sec-
retariat, voted Horse of the Year
when he was two and again as a
three-year-old and considered by
many in the horse racing com-
munity as being possibly the best
horse of the 20th century. John R.
Skeaping (British, 1901-1980)
perfectly captured the grace and
pure strength of this 1973 Triple
Crown winner, and this 1974
bronze sold for $46,000.
Another work featuring the
great Secretariat was by Rich-
ard Stone Reeves (1919-2005).
Three Kings is signed by the art-
ist and depicts champions Nijin-
sky II, Spectacular Bid, and Sec-
retariat with grooms at Claiborne
Farm. This oil on canvas went for
$126,500 (est. $60,000/80,000).
The pure beauty of the equine
breed was also evident in such
works as Mr. W.S.L. Crawford’s
Favourite Hunter, Cigar by John
E. Ferneley Sr. (British, 1782-
1860). It shows a gorgeous bay
saddled and ready to ride with
his handler and a spaniel close
by. The 34" x 45" image sold for
$126,500 after the auction.
“The success of this auction
confirms that there is a strong
demand for quality sporting art,”
said Walt Robertson, Keene-
land’s vice president of sales.
The 75% of the artworks sold
during the actual sale totaled
$2.25 million, and when post
sales are added in, the final num-
ber exceeds the $3 million mark.
For more information, con-
tact Cross Gate Gallery at (859)
), or
Keeneland Association, Inc. at
Rooster on a Tree Stump, Belinda Sillars (b.
1961), bronze, 5'8" x 35", edition of nine,
$24,150 (est. $18,000/22,000).
After the Hunt, André Pater (Polish/American,
b. 1953), oil on canvas, 30" x 40", $138,000 (est.
$125,000/150,000). This painting sold after the
auction. Cross Gate Gallery quoted Pater’s
comment on this painting. “It was the first large-
size hound painting I did while in the Bluegrass
[Region]. The time of day was the major source
of inspiration: reflection of sun-setting orange
on the ground, dark blue smudges of shadow.”
The Hunt outside the Blacksmith’s Forge, John Frederick Her-
ring Jr. (British, 1820-1907), oil on canvas, signed, dated 1858,
30" x 50", $77,050 (est. $90,000/120,000).
Hunting Scene, LeRoy Neiman (1921-2012),
oil on board, signed, dated 1963, 60" x 48",
$86,250 (est. $85,000/100,000).
Mr. W.S.L. Crawford’s Favourite Hunter, Cigar, John E.
Ferneley Sr. (British, 1782-1860), oil on canvas, 34" x 45",
signed and inscribed “Melton Mowbray, 1841,” $126,500
(est. $125,000/150,000).
Lop-Eared Rabbits, Sir John F. Herring Sr. (British,
1795-1865), oil on canvas, signed, dated 1851, 10" x
12½", $21,850 (est. $20,000/30,000).
Ducks and Ducklings, Sir John F. Her-
ring Sr. (British, 1795-1865), oil on board,
signed, dated 1851, 16" x 14", $36,800 (est.
$40,000/50,000).
Minna V, Edward Troye (Swiss/American, 1808-1874), oil
on canvas, 20½" x 28", $65,550 (est. $40,000/50,000). This
portrait of his shorthorn cow in a Woodburn landscape
was painted for Alexander John Alexander. It is said that
A.J. Alexander liked cattle more than horses, and those
that meant the most to him were those bred at his farm,
Woodburn, located in Spring Station, Kentucky.
The Barnyard in Winter, Sir John F. Herring Sr. (British,
1795-1865), oil on canvas, signed, dated 1849, 28¾" x 36",
$92,000 (est. $100,000/125,000).
Fox, Belinda Sillars (British, b. 1961),
bronze, 25" x 35", edition of nine, $15,525
(est. $4000/6000).
☞