New York – America takes centerstage at Christie’s Rockefeller Center in New York City on May 17, with a series of two live auctions: American Art, a curated selection of 20^th-Century paintings, works on paper, and sculpture; and Stewards of the West: The Knobloch Collection, a striking group of Western American paintings and sculptures assembled by the late entrepreneur and conservationist Carl W. Knobloch, Jr., and sold to benefit environmental conservation. Together, these sales present the story of America and its artists in the 19^th and 20^th centuries.  

AMERICAN ART

Following Christie’s 20th/21st Century Week in New York, the American Art Department is thrilled to offer this sale focused on 20^th century art, led by Norman Rockwell’s charming Home from Camp. Georgia O’Keeffe’s seminal watercolor Abstraction joins a rare largescale pastel abstraction by Arthur Dove from the same important private collection. Property from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston includes O’Keeffe’s superb Abiquiu Trees VII, which depicts the New Mexico landscape. Property from the May Family Collection features Thomas Hart Benton’s striking Regionalist composition, Gateside Conversation and Frank Weston Benson’s plein-air masterpiece, The Hill Top.

Caroline Seabolt, Head of Sale, Christie’s comments: “Norman Rockwell’s Home from Camp represents the artist at the apex of his craft, depicting a tender, familiar reunion that is universally relatable. We are also delighted to offer three important works by Georgia O’Keeffe spanning her storied career from when she was a young teacher in Canyon, Texas to an American icon by mid-century.”

STEWARDS OF THE WEST: THE KNOBLOCH COLLECTION

Carl W. Knobloch Jr. (1930-2016) was an accomplished businessman and conservationist. Mirroring his interest in the natural world, the collection is anchored by leading artists of the genre such as Thomas Moran, Albert Bierstadt, Frederic Remington and Henry F. Farny, among others. Proceeds of the auction will benefit The Knobloch Family Foundation, which is committed to grant making that ensures the conservation of natural ecosystems. Comprised of 75 lots, the collection is expected to realize in the region of $15 to 22 million.

Tylee Abbott, Head of American Art, Christie’s comments: “Carl Knobloch’s collection embodies his profound connection to the natural world—a legacy in beauty and stewardship that continues to inspire. It is fitting that such works, which were executed by the artists that first inspired leaders of generations past to preserve our country’s natural wonders, now be distributed for the express purpose of supporting organizations that contribute to the ongoing conservation and broader appreciation of these landscapes.”