Eleven miles outside Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is the Snake River Overlook, which has majestic views of the winding Snake River framed against the snow-capped peaks of the Grand Teton Range. The location has served as a landscape subject for countless artists, including two whose works performed remarkably well at the September 14 Jackson Hole Art Auction.
Carl Rungius (1869-1959), The Challenge, oil on canvas, 303⁄8 x 463⁄8 in. Estimate: $250/350,000 SOLD: $276,000
The first, photographer Ansel Adams, used this location for his iconic image The Tetons and the Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. A 1942 gelatin silver print once owned by singer Elton John had a high estimate of $150,000, which was conquered rather quickly by bidders. It would sell for $312,000, which was the auction’s top lot.
Conrad Schwiering (1916-1986), Tapestry of Time, 1962, oil on panel, 48 x 48 in. Estimate: $30/50,000 SOLD: $132,000
The second artist, painter Conrad Schwiering, stood in the same location for his 1962 painting Tapestry of Time, which appeared on Western Art Collector’s September cover. The piece flew past its high estimate of $50,000, eventually selling at $132,000, breaking a world record for the artist by more than $30,000.
The two works helped bring in more than $6.3 million in sales at the annual auction, which also boasted a 93 percent sell-through rate. More than a quarter of the lots sold above the high estimates.
Ansel Adams (1902-1984), The Tetons and the Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, 1942, gelatin silver print, printed 1970s, 15 x 18¾ in. Estimate: $100/150,000 SOLD: $312,000
Other top lots were Carl Rungius’ The Challenge, which sold within estimates at $276,000; William R. Leigh’s Chief Big Eagle (est. $175/275,000) that sold for $168,000; and Henry Shrady’s Bull Moose bronze that sold for $162,000, well over its $90,000 high estimate. Contemporary artists in the top 10 were Mark Maggiori and Martin Grelle, both of whom sold works just over $150,000.
One sleeper hit, a work with a low estimate that unexpectedly performed well, was Woodrow Blagg’s 72-inch-wide graphite work Bull Rush.The work on paper had a high estimate of $40,000, but furious bidding drove the sale to $168,000, which broke the Blagg world auction record previously set at $19,000.
Woodrow Blagg (1946-2023), Bull Rush, 2008, graphite on rag paper, 42½ x 72¼ in. Estimate: $20/40,000 SOLD: $168,000
“It was a very strong auction and we feel great about the results. It’s always exciting to see so much active bidding,” says auction partner Kevin Doyle. “We found that the sale had strong participation online through our three bidding platforms. Bidders are finding it easier to bid, and they are having more confidence to bid on artwork sight unseen.”
Mark Maggiori, Wyoming Spring, 2020, oil on linen mounted on board, 27 x 34 in. Estimate: $80/120,000 SOLD: $168,000
Doyle adds that the auction house is already looking forward to the February 2025 online sale. —
Top 10 Lots Jackson Hole Art Auction September 14, 2024 (including buyer’s premium)
Artist Title Low/High Est. SOLD
Ansel Adams The Teton Range and Snake River $100/150,000 $312,000
Carl Rungius The Challenge $250/350,000 $276,000
William R. Leigh Chief Big Eagle $175/275,000 $168,000
Mark Maggiori Wyoming Spring $80/120,000 $168,000
Woodrow Blagg Bull Rush $20/40,000 $168,000
Henry Shrady Bull Moose $60/90,000 $162,000
Martin Grelle Winter Quest $150/250,000 $156,000
G. Harvey Jackson’s Winter Campaign $125/175,000 $144,000
Conrad Schwiering Tapestry of Time $30/50,000 $132,000
Gerard Curtis Delano Colorado $150/250,000 $120,000
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