Artist's Corner

Charles Dana Gibson (1867-1944)

Charles Dana Gibson was born into a prominent and wealthy New England family in Roxbury - a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts - in 1867. As a child he was initially drawn to art through observation of his father's artwork, often silhouettes of family members. By the age of eight, he began producing similar silhouettes and eventually selling them by the time he was twelve. Through family connections, Gibson became an apprentice at the age of fourteen to Augustus Saint-Gaudens, a prominent sculptor and founder of the Cornish Colony. After nearly a year in Saint-Gaudens' studio, Gibson realized his primary artistic interest lay in pen and ink drawing rather than sculpture. Recognizing his early artistic talent, his parents enrolled him in the Art Students League.

Due to unforeseen financial difficulties, Gibson was forced to leave school in 1885 and embarked on his career as an artist. After failing to find a job he landed a trial position at Life, a new magazine competing with well-established competitors such as Puck and Judge. Initially hired to draw editorial cartoons featuring political figures, Gibson's interests quickly shifted towards portraying high society figures and their idiosyncrasies, which had garnered popularity in some circles. His monthly salary at Life began at $33, but quickly increased to $185 by his third month due to his important contributions to the magazine. Gibson also consulted with Tid-Bits - later renamed Time Magazine - and illustrated articles for Scribner's Magazine, Century and Harper's Magazine.

Gibson's most recognizable contribution to American art is the creation of the "Gibson Girl," which he first drew in 1890. He featured the Gibson Girl in his first independent portfolio of drawings of beautiful women, wherein the same woman's face was repeated in different poses and garments. Gibson's wife, Irene Langhorne Gibson, and her sisters were undoubtedly modeled for many of the artist’s Gibson Girl works. But despite the often told myth to contrary, Gibson’s wife was likely not the original inspiration for the iconic figure as he did not meet Irene until 1892, two years after the first drawing. The popularity of the Gibson Girl grew so large that Robert Collier and his partner Condé Nast tried to sign Gibson to their magazine team at Collier's Weekly in 1904. Despite Gibson’s loyalty to Life, Collier and Nast persisted, and a complicated sharing relationship was agreed upon with Life for his services, worth a staggering $100,000 for 100 illustrations over a four-year period.

While the height of Gibson’s popularity was between 1900 and 1910, his productivity continued well into the 1920s with the Gibson Girl as his best known subject. The Gibson Girl became a symbol of youthful American femininity that embodied modernism, athleticism, intelligence, style, and desirability. She even had influence on American fashion, with new lines being created in response to her various clothing styles. The Gibson Girl represented an idealized version of American femininity, which captivated the imagination of the country and provided a unique American identity.

During World War I, Gibson played a pivotal role in the Division of Pictorial Publicity, which aimed to create propaganda posters to support the war effort. After the war, however, the public's interest shifted away from the Gibson Girl and towards other cultural phenomena, like jazz music, flappers and booze, among others.

Lot 97

Charles Dana Gibson (Am. 1867-1944)

To a Big American Girl

Ink on paper, framed under glass Signed l.c., 8 3/8" x 13 5/8" framed $600 - $800

Provenance: Private Collection Maine

Literature: "Pictures of People" by Charles Dana Gibson, printed by Robert Howard Russell 1896

In 1920, a group of illustrators, writers and staff members led by Gibson purchased Life magazine at auction. Despite owning the largest number of shares, Gibson could not save the publication from the tough competition brought by new rivals such as the New Yorker, Fortune and Time. As a result Life fell into near demise, and Gibson had to sell the magazine in 1932. From here, at the age of sixty-five, he retired and devoted his time to creating artworks in oil, which were not as polished as his previous pen and ink drawings. However, his oil paintings were exhibited by The American Academy of Arts and Letters, and a New York Times critic praised his talent, proclaiming that "Charles Dana Gibson is a painter." In Gibson’s later years he and his wife spent more and more time at 700 Acre Island, Gibson’s summer home on the island of Islesboro, Maine.

Charles Dana Gibson passed away quietly at his New York residence in 1944. At the time of his death he was considered the most celebrated pen-and-ink artist of his time as well as a painter applauded by the critics of his later work. Despite his artistic pursuits, Gibson's name and legacy are still mostly associated with the iconic Gibson Girl, whose idealized beauty has endured in popular culture even after a century. Although the public may have forgotten his oil paintings, the Gibson Girl has remained a strong symbol of beauty and elegance.

Lot 99 Lot 98

Charles Dana Gibson (Am. 1867-1944)

"The Jury"

Ink on paper, framed under glass

Signed l.r.

14 5/8" x 23 5/8" actual, 19 13/16" x 29 5/16" framed

$2,000 - $3,000

Provenance: Private Collection New Hampshire

Literature: Illustrated in Drawings, Charles Dana Gibson, published by R.H. Russell & Son, 1896

*Barridoff Auctions would like to Thank Nicholas Steward of Steward Archives for his assistance cataloging this lot.

Charles Dana Gibson (Am. 1867-1944)

“Over There is the Coast of Africa”

Graphite and charcoal on board, framed under glass

Signed l.c.

21 7/8" x 16 5/8" actual, 34" x 29" framed

$800 - $1,200

Provenance: Private Collection New Hampshire

Literature: Soldiers of Fortune, Richard Harding Davis, published by Scribners 1916; Sketches and Cartoons, Charles Dana Gibson, published by New York R.H. Russell, 1900

*Barridoff Auctions would like to thank Nicholas Steward of Steward Archives for his assistance cataloging this lot.

Spring 2023

Lot 100

18th/19th Century American School

Portrait of a Woman Oil on panel, framed 19 7/8" x 15 9/16" actual, 27" x 23" framed

$800 - $1,200

Provenance: Private Collection New Hampshire, 2017 to Private Collection South Berwick, Maine

Lot 101

Tomkins Harrison Matteson (Am. 1813-1884) Playing with Grandfather, 1869 Oil on canvas, framed Signed and dated l.l. 29 5/16" x 24 3/16" actual, 35" x 30" framed

$3,000 - $5,000

Provenance: Sotheby's New York, May 24, 2001, lot 150 to the Estate of a New Hampshire Collector

Lot 102

17th Century Dutch School

Lady in a Pink Dress

Oil on panel, framed

Labeled "Attributed to Abraham van den Tempel" verso

45 3/4" x 33 7/8" actual, 54 9/16" x 42 1/2" framed

$2,000 - $3,000

Provenance: Private Collection South Portland, Maine

Lot 103

School of Jean-Marc Nattier (Fr. 18th Century) Lady in a Blue Dress

Oil pastel on paper, framed under glass

Indistinct inscription verso

21 5/8" x 18 1/8" actual, 28" x 24 1/2" framed

$1,000 - $1,500

Provenance: Private Collection Maine

Lot 104

Boris Tchoubanoff (Rus./Fr. b. 1946)

"Promenade sur lac" 2008

Oil on canvas, framed Signed l.r., signed, titled and dated verso 24" x 19 5/8" actual, 33 1/8" x 28 15/16" framed

$2,500 - $3,500

Provenance: From the Artist to Saddle River Gallery, New Jersey later to Private Collection

Other Notes: This lot is accompanied by a certificate from the Artist

Lot 105

Attr. to Arthur Beecher Carles Jr. (Am. 1882-1952)

Swinging Nude Oil on canvas, framed Signed l.l., signed verso 25" x 24" actual, 31 1/8" x 29 15/16" framed

$2,000 - $3,000

Provenance: Marc Quinta Gallery Minneapolis, Minnesota to Sandra McElwee Fine Arts Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Private collection, acquired by the present owner from the above 1996, to Christie's New York, 2012, lot 2628 to Private Collection Vermont

Exhibited: American Modernism: Paintings from the Dr. and Mrs. Mark S. Kauffman Collection, Boca Raton, Florida, Boca Raton Museum of Art, and elsewhere, November 19, 2003-January 18, 2004

Literature: Boca Raton Museum of Art, American Modernism: Paintings from the Dr. and Mrs. Mark S. Kauffman Collection, exhibition catalogue, Boca Raton, Florida, 2003, pp. 16, 68, no. 13, illus.

Lot 106

Karl Knaths (Am. 1891-1971)

"Woodland" 1962

Oil on canvas, framed Signed l.l., titled and dated on Paul Rosenberg & Co. label verso 36" x 42 1/16" actual, 37 3/16" x 43 1/4" framed

$6,000 - $8,000

Provenance: Private Collection Massachusetts

Lot 107

Provenance: Private Collection East Hampton, New York to Private Collection Massachusetts

Lot 109

Low Tide

Oil on canvas, framed

Signed l.r.

$800 - $1,200

Provenance: Private Collection Rye Beach, New Hampshire

Lot 108

Wolf Kahn (Am. 1927-2020)

Maine Seacoast (Cindy's Cove), 2000

Oil pastel on paper, framed under glass

Signed and dated l.l.

10 3/4" x 13 7/16" sight, 17 7/16" x 20 1/2" framed

$6,000 - $8,000

Provenance: Private Collection New York City, New York

Lot 110

Provenance: James D. Julia Inc. Fairfield, Maine, May 8, 2000 lot 161 to Private Collection Rye Beach, New Hampshire

Lot 111

Robert Laurent (Am. 1890-1970) Reclining Woman

Carved alabaster

Signed l.r. verso

Approx. 10 1/2" x 5 1/4" x 2 1/2" actual

$2,500 - $3,500

Provenance: From the Collection of George and Dadee Burk

Lot 112

Abraham Walkowitz (Rus. 1878-1965)

Bathing Figures

Watercolor on paper, framed under glass

Signed l.r.

5 1/4" x 8 3/4" sight, 11 3/4" x 16 3/4" framed

$700 - $900

Provenance: James R. Bakker Antiques Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts, February 12, 1988 lot 96 to Private Collection Rye Beach, New Hampshire

Lot 113

Walt Kuhn (Am. 1877-1949)

Four Works:

1] Sitting Performer, 1936 2] Showgirls, 1948

3] "Reclining Showgirl With Grapes" 4] "Reclining Female Nude" 1929

1-3] Ink on paper, framed under glass

4] Watercolor on paper, framed under glass

1] Signed and dated l.r. 2] Signed and dated l.r.

3] Walt Kuhn Gallery label verso

4] Signed and dated l.r., titled verso

$1,500 - $2,000

Provenance:1] Mystic Fine Arts Mystic, Connecticut, October 27, 1988 to Estate of the Artist White Plains, New York

2] Estate of the Artist White Plains, New York

3] James R. Bakker Antiques Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts, May 22, 1988 lot 181 to Estate of the Artist White Plains, New York

4] Ingeborg Gallery Northfield, Massachusetts, March 14, 1986 to Estate of the Artist White Plains, New York

Illustrated: 3] "Selected Paintings and Drawings, Walt Kuhn (1877-1949)"

Lot 114

Charles Woodbury (Am. 1864-1940)

Four Works:

Lot 115

Ansel Adams (Am. 1902-1984)

Lodgepole Pines, Lyell Fork of the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, 1921 Gelatin silver print, unframed Titled, dated and artist's stamp verso

6 5/8" x 8" actual

$2,000 - $3,000

Provenance: Estate of Maine Photographer Nicholas Dean to Private Collection Hampton Falls, New Hampshire

*Sold to Benefit The Cohos Trail Association

Lot 116

Eugene Edward Speicher (Am. 1883-1962)

"November Landscape"

Oil on canvas, framed Signed l.r., signed and titled verso 27 1/4" x 34 1/8" actual, 42" x 35 1/4" framed

$1,500 - $2,500

Provenance: Private Collection Falmouth, Maine

Lot 117

Norton Bush (Am. 1834-1894) Mountain Valley, 1880 Oil on canvas, framed

Signed and dated l.r., framer stamp verso

30" x 50" actual, 43 11/16" x 63 5/8" framed

$10,000 - $15,000

Provenance: Private Collection Portland, Maine

Lot 118

Bena Virginia Frank Mayer (Am. 1900-1994) Road Near a Town Oil on canvas, framed Signed l.c.

25 1/8" x 30 1/8" actual, 33 3/8" x 38 1/4" framed

$800 - $1,200

Provenance: Young Fine Arts Auctions Inc. North Berwick, Maine, September 20, 1997 to Private Collection Rye Beach, New Hampshire

Lot 120

Attr. to Arthur Wesley Dow (Am. 1857-1922)

The Dragon, Essex, MA Oil on canvas, framed 20" x 38" actual, 29 3/4" x 45 13/16" framed

$700 - $900

Provenance: Private Collection Rosindale, Massachusetts

Lot 119

Caleb Arnold Slade (Am. 1882-1961)

Winter Wharf Oil on canvas, framed Signed l.r.

18 3/8" x 21 3/4" actual, 24 1/4" x 27 7/8" framed

$4,000 - $6,000

Provenance: Private Collection Massachusetts

Lot 121

Carl Ivar Gilbert (Am. 1882-1959)

"Moose on the Hill" Oil on canvas, framed Signed l.r., signed and titled verso 16" x 24 1/4" actual, 23" x 31" framed

$300 - $500

Provenance: Private Collection Massachusetts

Lot 122

Carroll Thayer Berry (Am. 1886-1978) "Penobscot Bay" Oil on canvas, framed Signed l.l., inscribed "Carroll Thayer Berry 60 Russell Ave Rockport Maine" on frame and artist's label on stretcher verso 26" x 30" actual, 33 1/4" x 37 3/8" framed

$1,000 - $1,500

Provenance: Private Collection Moultonboro, New Hampshire

Lot 123

John Wood (Am. 1845-1919) Cape Elizabeth, 1905 Oil on canvas, framed Signed and dated l.r. 14" x 20" actual, 19 5/8" x 25 1/2" framed

$1,200 - $1,800

Provenance: Private Collection Wiscasset, Maine

Lot 124

John White Allen Scott (Am. 1815-1907)

Ashland New Hampshire, 1871 Oil on canvas, framed

Signed and dated l.r., Goodspeed's Book Shop, Inc. exhibition label verso

22 1/8" x 36" actual, 29 1/8" x 43 3/16" framed

$3,000 - $5,000

Provenance: Doyle New York, April 21, 2020, lot 32 to the Estate of a New Hampshire Collector

Lot 124a

Benjamin Champney (Am. 1817-1907) Rowing Past the Old Oak, 1875 Oil on canvas, framed Signed and dated l.l. 21" x 18 1/8" actual, 26 7/8" x 23 7/8" framed

$1,200 - $1,800

Provenance: Skinner Inc. November 3, 2018, lot 205 to the Estate of a New Hampshire Collector

Lot 124b

Samuel Lancaster Gerry (Am.

Venturesome Oil on canvas, framed Signed l.l. 20 1/4" x 14 1/8" actual, 27 1/4" x 21 5/16" framed

$800 - $1,200

Provenance: Grogan & Company, June 21, 2015, lot 27 to the Estate of a New Hampshire Collector

Lot 125

Edward Hill (Am. 1843-1923) Kinsman Falls Lincoln, NH, 1883 Oil on canvas, framed Signed and dated l.r. 22" x 15" actual, 25 1/2" x 18 1/2" framed

$1,200 - $1,800

Provenance: Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, August 28, 2021, lot 2053 to the Estate of a New Hampshire Collector

Lot 125a

Frank Henry Shapleigh (Am. 1842-1906) Birches at Jackson, N.H. Oil on canvas, framed Signed l.r., signed and titled verso 16" x 10" actual, 20 1/2" x 14 5/8" framed

$700 - $900

Provenance: The Cobbs Auctioneers, October 26, 2019, lot 71G to the Estate of a New Hampshire Collector

Lot 126

Alexander Helwig Wyant (Am. 1836-1892) Autumn on the Hudson Oil on canvas, framed Shannon's and Bernard Danenberg Galleries label verso 16" x 24 3/16" actual, 22 1/8" x 30 1/8" framed

$3,000 - $5,000

Provenance: Shannon's Fine Art Auctioneers, May 2, 2019, lot 160 to the Estate of a New Hampshire Collector

Lot 127

Alan Magee (Am. b. 1947) "An Exact Anatomy II" 2006 Acrylic on panel, framed Artist's label, Forum Gallery exhibition labels and inscribed "To: Ryan Spay" verso 11 1/4" x 14 1/4" actual, 22 1/4" x 19 1/4" framed

$2,500 - $3,500

Provenance: Private Collection Hopkinton, Massachusetts

Other Notes: This lot is accompanied by a sales receipt from Skinner Auctions

Lot 129

$1,000 - $1,500

Provenance: Private Collection Kansas

Lot 128

Alfred

Roussillon, France, 1977

Oil on canvas, framed Signed l.r. 28 1/2" x 49" actual, 29" x 49 1/2" framed

$1,500 - $2,000

Provenance: Private Collection Kansas

Spring

Lot 130

Dennis Sheehan (Am. b. 1950) "Mirror Pond" Oil on canvas, unframed Signed l.l., titled verso 12" x 12" actual

$400 - $600

Provenance: Private Collection Manchester, New Hampshire

Lot 131

Dennis Sheehan (Am. b. 1950) "By the Sea" 2022 Oil on canvas, unframed Signed l.l., signed, titled and dated verso 12" x 12" actual

$500 - $700

Lot 132

Dennis Sheehan (Am. b. 1950) "Twilight" Oil on canvas, unframed Signed l.l., titled verso 10" x 14" actual

$500 - $700

Provenance: Private Collection Manchester, New Hampshire

Lot 134

Robert Lahotan (Am. 1927-2002)

Still Life with Oxalis

Oil on canvas, framed

Signed l.r., Kraushaar Galleries exhibition label verso

19 7/8" x 22" actual, 25 3/4" x 27 9/16" framed

$700 - $900

Provenance: Private Collection Michigan

Lot 133

John Heliker (Am. 1909-2000)

Still Life: Blue Bottle, 1955

Oil on canvas, framed

Signed l.l., exhibition label verso

26" x 24" actual, 28 1/2" x 26 5/8" framed

$1,500 - $2,500

Provenance: Acquired from the Artist, 1973 to Collection of John Wallace Skinner Cleveland, Ohio to Private Collection Shaker Heights, Ohio to Collection of Matthew Deconnigh Cleveland, Ohio to Art Avenue Gallery Sarasota to Private Collection Vermont

Exhibited: Americana Gallery Cleveland, Ohio 1973-1975; Wolff Galleries

Cleveland, Ohio 1986; Corcoran Gallery Shaker Heights, Ohio 1996; Art Avenue Galleries Sarasota, Florida 2022

Provenance:

Lot 135

$1,000

Lot 136

$600

Provenance:

Lot 137

Ira Hamilton (Am. 19th/20th Century)

Portland Breakwater Lighthouse, 1912 Oil on board, framed Signed and dated l.l. 5 5/8" x 11 9/16" sight, 9 15/16" x 15 13/16" framed

$600 - $800

Provenance: Private Collection Woodstock, Vermont

Lot 138

Alan Bray (Am. b. 1946) A Clearing, 1990 Casein on panel, framed Signed l.r., Frick Gallery exhibition label verso 17" x 21" actual, 18 3/4" x 22 7/8" framed

$3,000 - $5,000

Provenance: Frick Gallery 1991 to Private Collection Spruce Head, Maine

Lot 140

Peter Poskas (Am. b. 1939) "Orchard Light No. II" Oil on canvas, framed Signed l.r., FAR Gallery label stretcher verso 35 3/8" x 43 7/8" actual, 36 13/16" x 45 9/16" framed

$2,500 - $3,500

Provenance: Private Collection Falmouth, Maine

Lot 139

Janice Anthony (Am. b. 1946) "Abandoned Pool, Gulf Hagas" 1995 Acrylic on linen, framed Signed l.r., signed, titled, dated, DeCordova Museum and Sherry French Gallery labels verso 24" x 24" actual, 25 3/4" x 25 3/4" framed

$1,000 - $1,500

Provenance: Private Collection Falmouth, Maine

Lot 141

William Irvine (Am./Scottish b. 1931) Irish Headland, 2011 Oil on paper, matted Signed l.l. 22 1/2" x 29 1/8" actual, 26" x 32" matted

$1,000 - $1,500

Provenance: Private Collection Tavares, Florida

Lot 142

William Irvine (Am./Scottish b. 1931) "Table with Flounder" Oil on canvas, framed Signed and titled verso 24" x 30" actual, 25 1/8" x 31 1/8" framed

$3,000 - $4,000

Provenance: Gleason Fine Art to Private Collection Massachusetts

Lot 143

William Irvine (Am./Scottish b. 1931) Low Tide Port Isaacs, 2011 Oil on paper, matted Signed l.r. 22 1/4" x 30" actual, 26" x 32" matted

$1,500 - $2,500

Provenance: Private Collection Tavares, Florida

Lot 144

Connie Hayes (Am. 20th/21st Century)

"Wiffle Ball" 1980

Oil on canvas, framed Signed, titled and dated verso, signed on stretcher verso 23 7/8" x 28 3/8" actual, 24 1/2" x 29" framed

$2,000 - $3,000

Provenance: Private Collection Maine

Lot 145

Connie Hayes (Am. 20th/21st Century) Painting of Pies, 1981

Oil on canvas, framed Signed and dated verso 15 3/4" x 11 3/4" actual, 16 1/2" x 12 1/2" framed

$1,200 - $1,800

Provenance: Private Collection Maine

Provenance:

Lot 146