Christie’s fine art auctioneers will offer about 20 pieces of sporting art from Santa Anita Park's Los Angeles Turf Club at various auctions this spring in New York. Highlights from the sales are on view at Christie’s Los Angeles office March 5-6.
Due to the depth and range of the art, the paintings will be sold at three different auctions: Interiors, April 2; 19th Century Paintings, April 8; and Old Master Paintings, April 15.
One of the Thoroughbred highlights is a painting entitiled “Pastime,” by Benjamin Marshall. The painting depicts an English-bred Partisian filly who was a multiple stakes winner in her native country during the 1820s. According to Christie’s officials, the painting will bring an estimated $150,000-200,000.
Another piece of interest to Thoroughbred enthusiasts is a Henry Stull painting entitled “Iroquois,” which portrays a Pennsylvania-bred Leamington colt who went on to win the Epsom Derby and St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster in the early 1880s. Iroqois was also named the leading United States sire in 1892.
“These were pieces (the Los Angeles Turf Club) had for around 50 years that they wanted to pass on to new owners,” said Clare McKeon, vice president of Christie’s British and Irish art department.
“These are very nice examples of some of the best sporting art painters from this period,” McKeon continued. “They are some of the most important of our sporting artists -- they're highly desirable, and these are very good examples of their works. It's a nice, broad group between racing and hunting, which appeals to our sporting art collectors.”
The Christie’s Los Angeles office is located at 360 North Camden Drive, Beverly Hills, California 90210. To view more Los Angeles Turf Club art, visit Christie’s Web site at www.christies.com.
