Myers Presents Fresh-to-Market Selection of Paintings From Artists Estates in 4/7 Fine Art Auction Myers Fine Arts

Sunday, April 7 auction of fine art from New York, American and E uropean artists estates will commence at 12 noon Eastern Time. A preview will be held from 10-6 on Saturday, April 6, and from 10 a.m. till noon on auction day. St. Petersburg, FL, March 26, 2013 -- Nearly all artists of renown have a privat e reserve of paintings they display in their own homes but never offer for publi c sale. Myers Fine Arts April 7 auction features a connoisseurs selection of artwo rks that qualify for this elite category. Almost every painting, sculpture or wo rk on paper was obtained directly from a noted artists estate or from the recipie nt to whom the artwork was gifted or bequeathed. A sizable portion of the freshto-market auction trove comes from the estates of New York artists, with the rem ainder representing private holdings from now-deceased American and European pai nters. While all schools converge in this sale, with a dateline from the early 1 7th through early 20th centuries, the selection is predominantly modern, said Myer s co-owner Mary Dowd. The largest grouping from a single artist is the collection of 15 works by 1960s abstract minimalist Leon Polk Smith (Native American, 1906-1996). Influenced by Piet Mondrian, Smiths highly original style is associated with the hard-edge sch ool, of which he is considered a founder. Smith spent most of his life in New Yo rk City, with the only breaks being a two-year tenure at Rollins College in Flor ida and a brief period of residence in Cuba. His influence and importance are va lidated by the many museums whose permanent collections include his paintings, s uch as the Whitney, the National Gallery of Art, and the Guggenheim, where Smith received a coveted fellowship. Among the Leon Polk Smith paintings in the April 7 sale is a signed 1970 acrylic on shaped canvas painting from Smiths acclaimed Constellation series. Measuring 19 inches square, it is estimated at $4,000-$6,000. Also, a 31in diameter oil and collage on canvas titled Vermilion Black is signed on verso and carries the inscr iption Gift to Bob Jamieson 1956. It is expected to make $6,000-$9,000. The legacy of New York artists continues with three quintessential Johann Berthe lsen (American, 1883-1972) oil-on-board snow scenes of Manhattan landmarks: Wash ington Square Park (18in x 22in sight, est. $4,000-$6,000), the Empire State Build ing (19 7/8in x 24in sight, est. $4,000-$6,000) and Central Park. Each of the pa intings is signed and attractively framed. Howard Gardiner Cushings (American, 1869-1916) signed oil-on-board Portrait of Ger trude Vanderbilt Whitney depicts the famous New York art patron and museum founde r in a fanciful Leon Bakst-designed costume. A pencil notation on the back of th e 18in x 13in (sight) painting reads, in part, Bought by Mrs. Delano, 131 E. 36 It i s estimated at $5,000-$7,000. It is interesting how the artworks acquired from completely different estates som ehow came together in this sale so many years later, Dowd said. The Mrs. Delano who purchased the Cushing painting was the wife of architect William Adams Delano of the firm Delano & Aldrich. After Howard Cushing died, Mrs. Whitney helped fund a gallery at the Newport Art Museum to memorialize Cushings work. Mrs. Whitneys go od friend, William Delano, was chosen to design the gallery. Were also auctioning some beautiful New York City architectural prints by Chester Price, who, coincidentally, worked for Delano & Aldrich for many years, Dowd adde d. And bringing it full circle, the sale also includes a collection of artists boo ks, one of which is filled with colorful plates depicting some of Leon Baksts Bal lets Russes costumes similar to the one Gertrude Whitney wore for her Cushing po rtrait.

A Gustave Baumann (American, 1881-1971) woodblock print titled Cholla and Sahuaro vividly showcases several varieties of cacti, some of them flowering, in a South western desert setting. Pencil-signed with the artists chop mark, the 20in x 19in (framed) work is numbered 49/125 and expected to realize $10,000-$15,000 at auc tion. Distinctly the work of Balcomb Greene (American, 1904-1990), a dramatic oil-on-l inen artwork depicting craggy rocks and chilly waters is titled The Cove. It measu res 60in x 54in, is artist signed and estimated at $4,000-$6,000. A more placid water scene is William Allyn Nichols (American, b. 1942-) signed 53in x 78in (sig ht) oil on canvas titled Japanese Foot Bridge, which is entered in the sale with a $6,000-$8,000 estimate. Making it a marine trifecta, Emile A. Gruppes (American, 1896-1978) 1958 oil painting Shelling Longboat Key is offered with a $4,000-$6,00 0 estimate. Alfonso A. Ossorios (American, 1916-1990) signed and dated 1952 freeform watercol or titled Mononucleosis measures 40in x 26in (sight) and could bring $3,000-$4,000 at auction. Another compelling contemporary work is the Louise Berliawsky Nevels on (American, 1899-1988) oil on canvas titled Cats. Signed but unframed, it measur es 20in x 38in and is estimated at $2,000-$4,000. Heading the European art section is a Joan Miro (Spanish, 1893-1983) aquatint et ching Laigrette Rouge, signed and numbered 15/50. Sized 64in x 46in (framed), it is estimated at $10,000-$15,000. It is unusual to encounter a Miro from such a smal l edition, Dowd noted. Because the April 7 event is Myers first specialty fine art sale in more than thr ee years, co-owners Mary Dowd and Michael Myers were both selective and inclusio nary in their final choices. The auction features many excellent, fresh-to-marke t works by lesser-known artists in addition to elusive paintings by avidly colle cted, high-profile names. Myers Fine Arts Sunday, April 7 auction of fine art from New York, American and E uropean artists estates will commence at 12 noon Eastern Time. A preview will be held from 10-6 on Saturday, April 6, and from 10 a.m. till noon on auction day. The gallery is located at 1600 4th St. North in St. Petersburg, FL 33704. All fo rms of bidding will be available including live via the Internet through LiveAuc tioneers.com. For additional information, call 727-823-3249 or e-mail auctions@m yersfineart.com. Online: www.myersfineart.com. CAPTION: Gustave Baumann (American, 1881-1971), Cholla and Sahuaro, one of three Baumann wo odblock prints in the auction, signed and titled, 49/125, 18in x 22in framed, est. $10,000-$15,000. Myers Fine Art image. About Myers Fine Art: Myers Auction Gallery, Floridas only specialty antiques auction house, was first established by owner Michael Myers in 1970. Myers has built a reputation of offe ring fresh-to-the-market fine art and antiques gathered from estates throughout Florida, New England and New York. All forms of bidding are available including live in the gallery, absentee, phone and live via the Internet. For additional i nformation, call 727-823-3248 or 727-823-3249, or emailauctions@myersfineart.com Contact: Mary Dowd Myers Fine Art Auction 1600 4th Street North St. Petersburg, FL 33704 727-823-3249

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