TOPS IN EQUINE
Picture Perfect Auction
Sir Alfred J. Munning, Blue Prince II by Cyndi Goyer Greathouse
A vast collection of fine art mixed with a hint of curiosity brought enthusiastic spectators and buyers to the Inaugural
Sporting Art Auction at the Keeneland Sales Pavilion on November 20th. The collaboration between the world’s largest Thoroughbred auction house, Keeneland and the country’s premier gallery of fine sporting art and contemporary British figurative painting, Cross Gate Gallery, offered 174 museum quality “sporting” paintings and sculpture by British and American artists and works by important American realist and impressionist painters to Lexington. It seemed only fitting that the Horse Capitol of the World should be the location of the first Sporting Art Auction. “We are delighted with the great support we received from the Central Kentucky community, the horse industry, and sporting art collectors, who turned out in force to participate in the auction,” said Cross Gate Gallery owner Greg Ladd. “Their enthusiasm translated into spirited bidding throughout the evening.” The auction raised more than $3.11 million and will benefit the Keeneland Foundation. Among the auction’s most important pieces included several oil paintings by British artist Sir Alfred J. Munnings, regarded as one of the world’s finest equine painters. Solely hanging in the center of the sales pavilion stage throughout the auction, a setting typically reserved for the finest Thoroughbreds as they are bought and sold, was Munnings’ Blue Prince II. This 26 ½” x 39 ¼” oil, is a traditional English style piece commissioned by Thoroughbred owner, breeder, and sporting art enthusiast Walter Jeffords.
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“We couldn’t have asked for a better sporting art auction, especially for year one,” said Keeneland Vice President of Sales Walt Robertson. “Eighty-one percent of the pieces sold, which is tremendous, and 48 percent of those sold for more than the high estimate value listed in the catalog.” Topping the sale was LeRoy Neiman’s Flat Racing, a massive 17’ x 7’ mural using 119 glazed 12” x 12” ceramic tiles as the surface, brought $291,000 and depicts horses galloping down the stretch. This truly unique, colorful mural was commissioned by Mr. Charles Bidwill, Jr. in 1976 to be installed in Sportman’s Park in Chicago. Three generations of Wyeth’s were represented; grandfather N.C., father Andrew, and son Jamie. Andrew Wyeth’s 1964 tempera on Masonite piece, Marsh Hawk, earned the top bid of the evening at $4.8 million, yet did not make its reserve. Important American artist Mary Cassatt’s large Children Playing with a Cat received a bid of $4.7 million. Other important artists with pieces up for auction included Sir John Frederick Herring, Edward Troye, Franklin Voss, Andre Pater, John Ferneley, Sr., Peter Curling and Charles Church. Lexington-based artist Andre Pater had a very successful evening. Two of his works, which were some of the last to sell in the catalogue, exceeded their stated values. One of his early paintings of an Arabian horse and rider, Sandstorm, went for $80,000, exceeding its stated value by $20,000. Pater’s finished oil, The Gift of Scent, of six hounds on a chase, went for $160,000 with the charcoal Study for the Gift of Scent brought $30,000–well over the catalogue estimate.