Art auctions in 2024 featuring art of the American West continued to show the interest in this timeless genre as well as complementary art that can fill collections. Notable were works by Charles M. Russell, who is considered by many to be the quintessential cowboy artist, while photography and illustrations also found their way into the top lots. Below are a few highlights of the works sold at auction from the past year.
The Russell
March 14-16, 2024
cmrussell.org
Charles M. Russell (1864-1926), The War Party, ca. 1896, oil, 22.25 x 36. Estimate: $2.25 million-$3.25 million. SOLD: $2.25 million
The Russell, the premier fundraiser event for the C.M. Russell Museum, returned in 2024 to its traditional March schedule to coincide with the famed Western Art Week in Great Falls, Montana. There was much fanfare throughout the March 14 to 16 events, resulting in $5.2 million in gross sales. With the weekend festivities inspired by the museum’s namesake Charles M. Russell, it is no surprise that the top lot was the artist’s oil painting THE WAR PARTY. The work hammered at its low estimate of $2.25 million during the signature live auction. The Friday night First Strike auction, the day before the main sale and featuring the work of contemporary artists, showed the strength of the market category as all lots found buyers.
March in Montana
March 15-16, 2024
marchinmontana.com
Norman Rockwell (1894-1978), Sleigh Ride or Study for The Dover Coach or Study for the Christmas Coach, oil on board, 9 x 22. Estimate: $50,000-$70,000. SOLD: $240,000.
The 2024 edition of the March in Montana sale was led by a beautiful illustration by Norman Rockwell titled SLEIGH RIDE or STUDY FOR THE DOVER COACH or STUDY FOR THE CHRISTMAS COACH. The work, estimated to fetch between $50,000 and $70,000, was a 1935 preliminary study for the large mural painting THE DOVER STAGE that hangs in the Clubhouse of the Society of Illustrators in New York City. While it is not the typical Western fare that the auction is recognized for, the Rockwell had been on exhibit at the C.M. Russell Museum’s exhibition on the artist in 2005 to 2006. Accompanying the lot were a collection of notes, books and magazines, and together they sold for $240,000.
Scottsdale Art Auction
April 12-13, 2024
scottsdaleartauction.com
Charles M. Russell (1864-1926), The Broken Rope, oil on canvas, 24.125 x 36.25. Estimate: $5 million-$7 million. SOLD: $5.2 million.
At the close of the 2024 Scottsdale Art Auction’s two-day sale, April 12 and 13, the top lot was Tom Lovell’s COTTONWOOD GAZETTE, which along with its original oil study sold for $339,300. However, sometimes, even after the auction ends, the story of the sale is not yet over. Such was the case when a buyer purchased Charles M. Russell’s THE BROKEN ROPE for $5.2 million from Scottsdale Art Auction post sale. Only a handful of major Russell oils have come to market over the last few decades, and this one is from an important era in the artist’s career. As Russell expert Joan Carpenter Troccoli wrote, “THE BROKEN ROPE represents one of Russell’s notable periodic advances in technical skill and confidence.”
Coeur d’Alene Art Auction
July 27, 2024
cdaartauction.com
Philip R. Goodwin (1881-1935), Dangerous Sport, oil on canvas, 40 x 28. Estimate: $250,000-$350,000. SOLD: $786,500.
The July 27, 2024, edition of the Coeur d’Alene Art Auction had excitement throughout the day as 42 lots sold for over six figures helping to push the auction total over $17.6 million. Leading the day was sporting artist Philip R. Goodwin’s DANGEROUS SPORT (est. $250,000-$350,000) at $786,500 to become the second-highest auction price for the artist. Two others by Goodwin sold during the day: AN UNEXPECTED GAME at $229,900 and WHEN SECONDS COUNT at $102,850. Five paintings by Howard Terpning—including the 2024 catalog cover lot ARMY MULES NO MORE, which achieved $514,250—sold for a combined total of nearly $1.7 million. Presented during the day was a special offering of art from the collection of Texas businessman Red McCombs that grossed almost $3.5 million during the sale.
Jackson Hole Art Auction
September 14, 2024
jacksonholeartauction.com
Ansel Adams (1902-1984), The Teton Range and Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, 1942, printed ca. 1973-77, gelatin silver print mounted on board, 15 x 18.75. Estimate: $100,000-$150,000. SOLD: $312,000.
Jackson Hole Art Auction’s 18th annual sale on September 14, 2024, in Wyoming had strong results with 93 percent of the 346 lots offered finding buyers. The day was highlighted by the beautiful cover lot, a gelatin silver print of Ansel Adams’s THE TETONS AND THE SNAKE RIVER, GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING, which sold for $312,000 to more than double its high estimate of $150,000. Another work depicting the same area was Wyoming artist Conrad Schwiering’s landscape TAPESTRY OF TIME (est. $30,000-$50,000), which became a world auction record for the artist when it smashed the 2022 record set by the auction house. The work, which came in at $132,000, was the first six-figure price for the artist at auction. In all, the auction achieved over $6.3 million in sales.
Santa Fe Art Auction – Signature Live Sale
November 8-9, 2024
santafeartauction.com
Dorothy Eugenie Brett (1883-1977), Indian Women Watching Horse Race, 1927, oil on board, 17.625 x 21.375. Estimate: $10,000-$20,000 SOLD: $43,050.
Over November 8 and 9, 2024, more than 450 lots crossed the auction block during Santa Fe Art Auction’s 30th annual Signature Live Sale. During session one, on November 8, highlights included Gene Kloss artist proofs and drawings. The second day’s first outing—session two—boasted Native American pottery and textiles along with a collection of Western paintings and bronzes from the Patsy P. and William L. Hutchinson Collection, while a third session of works was devoted to the Gregory Warren Nelson Collection. The standout of the sale was Dorothy Eugenie Brett’s INDIAN WOMEN WATCHING HORSE RACE, which easily surpassed its high estimate of $20,000 to sell for $43,050. A full house of bidders drove the two-day total to nearly $2.5 million and a sell-through rate of 94 percent.
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