Heritage Auctions | November 15, 2024 | Dallas, TX

Visions of the American West

Heritage Auctions features a variety of pieces in its American art sale, including significant Western artworks.

By Chelsea Koressel

Western art will make a triumphant return to the American Art Signaturesale at Heritage Auctions on November 15 in Dallas. The sale, which will have approximately 80 lots, will showcase artwork in a variety of genres, art movements, styles and mediums. The sale offers prominent Western works from throughout the 20th century and later, “allowing collectors to fill any holes they might have in their collection,” says Alissa Ford, Heritage vice president of American and Western art.

Edward Willis Redfield (1869-1965), Spring Valley, oil on canvas, 29¾ x 36 in. Estimate: $50/70,000

“The Western art market is constantly evolving, and most Western collections are quite extensive, ranging from historic to contemporary paintings,” Ford continues. “We are seeing an increased interest in works by contemporary Native American artists. Most major Western art collections include these contemporary pieces to hang alongside iconic paintings by the Taos Society of Artists, creating interesting narratives and telling a clear the story of history and visions of the American West.”

Arnold Friberg (1913-2010), In his Own Country, ca. 1980s, oil on canvas, 31½ x 44 in. Estimate: $30/50,000

Examples include the 1978 oil A Watchful Eye by Howard Terpning. The work is looking to fetch between $150,000 and $250,000. “[This piece] holds significant stylistic importance, marking a transition in his career from commercial art to fine art, particularly focusing on Western themes,” explains Ford. “During this period, Terpning refined his ability to convey realism and emotional depth, bringing a cinematic quality to his trapper and Native American subjects. It was also during this time he developed a distinctive palette of earthy tones, grounding his work in the natural beauty of the American frontier, while his compositions balanced action and stillness, drawing viewers into the historical narratives he portrayed.”

J.C. Leyendecker (1874-1951), Boy Scouts Signaling with Flags, The Saturday Evening Post cover, September 9, 1911, oil on canvas, 30 x 21 in. Opening Bid: $100,000

Another stunning offer is Arnold Friberg’s 1980s oil painting titled In His Own Country (est. $30/50,000). “[This painting] reflects the heroism and endurance of Native American life,” Ford shares. “His powerful use of light and shadow added depth and drama to [his] works, evoking a sense of grandeur. Many of Friberg’s paintings emphasize the theme of survival, solitude and the beauty of the wilderness. He once noted, ‘I fill up my pictures with man and animal, and with just enough landscape to identify the setting...’”

Additional gems include the oil on canvas winter scene Spring Valley (est. $50/70,000) by Edward Willis Redfield and J.C. Leyendecker’s Boy Scouts Signaling with Flags from the cover of a 1911 Saturday Evening Post.This Leyendecker piece and 24 other works are highlights from the BSA Settlement Trust, which was created to compensate victims of sexual abuse within Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America).