Thursday, March 26, 2015

Art in the Age of European & American Exploration Auction, April 18, 2015

Arader Galleries in conjunction with Mid-Hudson Auction Galleries will be hosting an Auction of Art in the Age of European & American Exploration on April 18, 2015 at 1 pm at 1016 Madison Avenue, New York City. 


The auction is filled with John James Audubon's masterpieces from two very different works - the first, of course, The Birds of America, has quite a few masterpieces for sale: the Snowy Owl (Lot 14) being the finest.  Audubon’s “Snowy Owl” is one of the most desirable images from his monumental Birds of America: one of his very few nocturnal scenes, and certainly one of the most vibrant and charming full-page illustrations of his 435-plate series.  Other highlights include the beautiful Scarlet Ibis (Lot 10), the Bird of Washington (Lot 18), and finally the Canvas Backed Duck (Lot 7), President Reagan’s favorite, he loved the images with cities in the background.  
 
The next part of the sale is a continuation of Audubon's "other" work the Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America published as lithographs in Philadelphia by J.T. Bowen between 1845 and 1848. This collection of 70 quadrupeds have the finest color, best pull, and right patina of paper and ink, with full margins, and no restoration or repairs. It is a wonderful collection of nature's smaller and more interesting creatures, which can be bought at very affordable prices. The highlights include the Swift Fox, Canada Porcupine, Armadillo, and Tawny Weasel (Lots 21-91).

The sale continues with a lengthy section of framed maps from renowned cartographers such as Ortelius, Mercator, Blaeu, and Jaillot, among many others. There are early examples of world maps, rare manuscript maps, views of American cities such as, New York and Minneapolis, as well as Celestial Charts showing the Zodiac including the most decorative 17th century chart of the heavens, and an exemplary collection of beautiful atlases from the 16th - 18th Centuries.
 
Additionally, there is a selection of Currier & Ives prints and other Historic and Genre Scenes on paper. Following is a wonderful selection of Natural History Flora and Fauna including engravings from Dr. Robert Thornton’s Temple of Flora; or Garden of Nature (Lots 194-201) watercolors for Pierre-Joseph RedoutĂ©’s Les LiliacĂ©es (Lots 202-211), and ), both watercolors and engravings by Jacques Barraband for his Histoire des Perroquets (Lots 212-221).Last is a section of paintings and watercolors including those by Thomas Birch, Charles Wimar, and Edward Moran, in addition to a superb sixteenth-century portrait of famed geographer Abraham Ortelius by Adrien Key, which was the only portrait painted of Ortelius during his lifetime (Lot 235).

Please contact Arader Galleries if you would like to be sent a catalog or if you would like to bid online. We would be happy to assist you.

415-788-5115

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