March 25th 2012 – The March Art auction was held at Jackson’s new location at Arch at Chatham in downtown at Indianapolis, In. and just one block south of Massachusetts Ave. There was an exceptional painting by Ada W. Shulz (1874 to 1954) that was the highlight of the afternoon. The painting was a 14x16 oil on canvas titled “My Garden”, signed lower left and sold at the mid-point pre-auction estimate for $75,000. A second Ada Shulz oil painting was very nice as well, measuring 20x24 and signed lower right received a final bid of $12,500.
Four of the five Hoosier Group artists were represented at the auction with six William Forsyth (1854–1935) paintings available to collectors. William was a student at the Indiana School of Art in Indianapolis In. and went to the Munich Academy in 1882 with T. C Steel and John Ottis Adams. He also contributed to the founding of the Herron School of art. The first Forsyth oil painting measured 24x32 SLR 09 and sold at the low end of the pre-sale estimate of $20,000 - $40,000 at $23,000. A self portrait SLR measuring 24x18 SLR went to a bidder for $7,000, and a Forsyth water color measuring 10x14 SLR 1929 brought a final bid of $700. An Indiana art auction is not an auction unless there is a Theodore Clement Steele (1847 to 1926) painting for sale. Purchased by the highest bidder for $17,500, the Steele oil painting measured 22x32 and was signed lower right ’09. The third member of the Hoosier Group was the self taught artist Richard Buckner Gruelle (1851 to 1914), with a very nice watercolor SLL 95 and measuring 14x20, sold to a collector for $2,500. Rounding out the final four artists was a 10x5 watercolor SLL 81 by Otto Stark selling for $1,400.
A rare Adam Emory Albright (1854–1935) oil painting titled “Wall Flowers” signed lower right and received heavy bidding with the final bid at $15,000. The painting measured 26x36 and included a book written by Adam.
Randolph LaSalle Coats (1891-1957) was born in Richmond Indiana and studied at the Herron School of Art in Indianapolis under William Forsyth. He was a well known portrait and figure painter as evidenced by the two figure paintings offered for sale. A 14x12, O/B Semi Nude, SLR sold for $1,500. The second painting titled “Freda” measured 14x14 and signed lower right brought a final price of $2,000.
Dale Bessire lived in Nashville, In. on a 30 acre orchard splitting his time between painting and growing apples. He must have found a lot of inspiration in the hills of Brown County as reflected in the 24x30 Oil on canvas signed lower left and titled “Impending Showers”, the painting reached $3,000 as a final bid. Titled “Sumac Time”, the 20x24 oil signed lower left was a well done painting and sold for $2,250.
Other Indiana Art Auction Prices of the day included:
Gustave Baumann, 8x7, Colored Woodblock, SLR ’09, “The Builders” sold for $5,500
Robert Selby, 36x24, O/B. SLR, “Forsyths Porch”, sold for $2,000
Claude Curry Baum, 8x16, O/B, SLR, “November Morning”, sold for $900
John Elwood Bundy, 16x20, O/C, SLL Richmond Woods with stream, sold for 3,500
Paul A. Randall, 16x20, O/B, SLR, “The Hilltop Cabin”, sold for $2,250
Leota Loop, 20x26, O/C, SLL, Late Autumn in Brown County, sold for $900
Ruth Anderson, 12x16, O/C, SLR, Looking at Nashville Winter, sold for $1,300
Clayson Baker, 12x16, O/B, SLR, Early Autumn Landscape, $225
Bloomington Indiana artist Hallie P. Prow (1868 – 1945) was offered for sale. Hallie lived in Bloomington, In with her husband Dr. Prow and her children and did not start painting professionally until she was in her mid fifties. Her paintings do not come up for auction as often as other artists, which sparked a lot of interest by bidders. The lucky bidder took home the painting for $5,500 the mid-point for its $3,500 to $7,000 auction estimate.
Painters and Sculptors of Chicago, Joliet Art League, Palette and Chisel Club of Chicago, Scarab League of Detroit, Hoosier Salon, Brown County Art Gallery Association, Charter Member of Brown County Art Guild. Three paintings by the artist were offered to collectors of his work. A 20x22 O/B SLR, depicting a Brown County landscape brought $1,000. Also available were two 8/10 oil on boards, SLR, the first of a winter scene reached $350.
