Bundy Oil at July Auction

JE Bundy, 24x19, O/C

BUNDY PAINTING EXCEEDS ESTIMATE

Purchased by Richmond museum for permanent collection

CARMEL, IN- In today’s unpredictable antiques and art market, one thing is true; quality still sells, and is still in great demand. 

 

This truth is evidenced by the sale of a painting entitled “A Hillside in Winter”, by John Elwood Bundy (IN, 1853-1933), which exceeded auction estimate of $3000-$5000 when it hammered for $9,500 at Wickliff Auctioneers’ summer estates and antiques auction on Saturday, July 15.

A late, last-minute addition to the auction catalogue, the painting had a label attached verso which claimed that the piece had been exhibited in the National Academy of Design.  The ‘National Academy’, as it is now known, was founded in 1825 and is a professional honorary organization, school, and a museum.   Paintings juried into the Academy’s annual exhibition are considered to be of the best quality, and the Academy’s archive indicates that a painting entitled “A Winter Hillside”, by John Elwood Bundy, of Richmond, IN, was exhibited in their annual show in 1916.  Although a slightly different title is recorded, in conflict with the frame tag on the painting, the painting offered is believed to have been the canvas exhibited in 1916.

All available phone bidding lines at Wickliff were reserved for this item, and other absentee bidders were offered the opportunity to bid live, online, or to present an absentee bid.  When the hammer fell, the winning bidder was the Richmond Art Museum, Richmond, IN, who purchased the piece for the museum’s permanent collection.  According to Shaun Dingwerth, the museum actively collects important pieces through purchase, as well as from donations.  Dingwerth said, regarding the Bundy, “This is the kind of painting we want in our great collection.”

Wickliff Auctioneers specializes in the sale of fine art at auction, and conducts monthly sales at their Carmel, IN, salesroom.  More information is available at www.wickliffauctioneers.com or by calling 317-844-7253.