Norman Rockwell Illustration & Record Prices Highlight Heritage's Inaugural Sale of American Art

Dallas, Texas: Norman Rockwell's 1930's era original artwork of Benjamin Franklin for a Saturday Evening Post cover, "Freedom of the Press: Poor Richard's Almanac," sold for $262,900 in the first sale of American art and illustration conducted by Heritage Galleries & Auctioneers of Dallas, Texas (www.HeritageGalleries.com), October 29.

A record price was established for another magazine illustrator. Three paintings by legendary Illustrator, J.C. Leyendecker, sold for $83,650, $71,700 and $98,587.50, respectively. The $98,587.50 is a new record for a Saturday Evening Post cover by Leyendecker who painted 322 covers for "The Post".

A 1953 watercolor by Peruvian-American - artist Alberto Vargas titled "American Fantasy" sold for $89,625, an advance of over 20% compared to the artist's previous auction record, according to AskART.com.

Heritage Galleries & Auctioneers' first sale of American Art and Illustration exceeded expectations, with prices realized of $1,585,001. Over 750 bidders placed bids on the 488 lots offered. These figures are exclusive of any post auction sales, which are still being offered at web site www.HeritageGalleries.com. They also do not include the results from Heritage's subsequent auction the same weekend of non-American paintings, silver, art glass and decorative arts.

"Heritage's sale was consistently strong over the course of both sessions, with competitive prices paid throughout a broad range of media and genre," said Ed Jaster, Director of Acquisitions at Heritage.

Bidding was particularly fierce for the offering of seven works by American sculptor, Harriett Frishmuth. A twenty-seven inch, 1918 casting of "The Leaf" sold for $41,825 and a 1922, nineteen inch casting of "Sweet Grapes" realized $23,302.50 - nearly double the pre-sale estimate of $12,000. Another highlight among the sculpture was a Thomas Eakins' "Knitting" c.1882, a lovely plaster cast which realized $8,365.

The sale also featured some impressive results for American Photography. Recently deceased legend, Richard Avedon's "Sunny Harnett, Evening Dress by Gres" realized $13,145. Robert Mapplethorpe's "Jack in the Pulpits" fetched a handsome $38,240. A small, black and white version of "Baby's Breath" by Mapplethorpe realized $5,975.

A contemporary, pastel portrait of John F. Kennedy, drawn from life by Louis Lupas, brought $43,020. This was against a $10,000 pre-sale estimate, and roughly five times higher than the artist's previous auction record. "Texas is a GOP stronghold," quipped Jaster, "and the most famous Republican - Abraham Lincoln, was given his due too." An anonymous oil portrait of Lincoln realized $19,120, against a pre-sale estimate of $9,000. A suite of three miniature pencil portraits, featuring Lincoln, Stephen Douglas and John Brown, by Jules Emile Saintin realized $33,460.

"We have a strong commitment to the areas of Fine and Decorative Arts," adds Heritage Galleries President, Greg Rohan. "We have added several sales to these areas in 2005, and we are excited to be a part of this wonderful area of collecting."

Heritage Galleries & Auctioneers is currently accepting consignments for its next Fine Arts and Illustration sale slated for Spring 2004.

Enquiries for paintings, sculpture, photography and illustration should be directed to Ed Jaster, 800.872.6467 ext., 288, EdJ@HeritageGalleries.com. Enquiries for fine silver, art glass and decorative arts should be directed to Bryan Abbott, 800.872.6467 ext. 320, Bryan@HeritageGalleries.com or Karen Fedri, 800.872.6467 ext. 379 KarenF@HeritageGalleries.com

Highlights to the Auction include:

LOT 25211 ALBERTO VARGAS (1896-1982)
"American Fantasy", 1953
Watercolor on paper
Realized $89,625

LOT 25125 JOSEPH CHRISTIAN LEYENDECKER (1874-1951)
Saturday Evening Post cover, October 19, 1935
Going South
Oil on canvas
Realized $83,650

LOT 25126 JOSEPH CHRISTIAN LEYENDECKER (1874-1951)
Original Advertising Art
The House of Kuppenheimer
Merry Christmas from Kuppenheimer's, c.1924
Oil on canvas, mounted on board
Realized $71,700

LOT 25127 JOSEPH CHRISTIAN LEYENDECKER (1874-1951)
Saturday Evening Post cover, November 24, 1928
Oil on canvas
Realized $98,587.50

LOT 24127 NORMAN ROCKWELL (1894-1978)
Freedom of the Press: Poor Richard's Almanac, c.1930
Oil on canvas 32in. x 27in.
Realized $262,900

LOT 24111 HARRIET WHITNEY FRISHMUTH (American 1880-1980)
The Leaf, 1918
Edition of ten
Bronze
27in. x 7in.
Realized $41,825

LOT 24110 HARRIET WHITNEY FRISHMUTH (American 1880-1980)
Sweet Grapes, 1922
Bronze
19in. x 4.5in.
Realized $23,302.50

LOT 24038 THOMAS EAKINS (American 1844-1916) Knitting, c.1882
Painted plaster relief
18.5in. x 15in. oval
Realized $8,365

LOT 24133 RICHARD AVEDON (1923-2004)
Sunny Harnett, Evening Dress by Gres, Casino, Le Touquet, August 1954
Used in the September, 1954 issue of Harper's Bazaar
Realized $13,145

LOT 24184 ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE (1946-1989)
Jack In The Pulpits, 1988
Dye transfer print
Realized $38,240

LOT 24183 ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE (1946-1989)
Baby's Breath, 1978
Gelatin silver print
Realized $5,975

LOT 24179 LOUIS LUPAS (American)
Portrait of 35th U.S. President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, c.1961
Pastel on paper
Realized $43,020

LOT 24020 AMERICAN SCHOOL
Abraham Lincoln
Oil on canvas
Realized $19,120

LOT 24019 JULES ÉMILE SAINTIN (French 1829-1894)
Three Portraits
1. Abraham Lincoln, 1860
Graphite and gouache on card
Realized $33,460