Christie’s (New York) recently announced “The Legend of the West: Iconic Works from the T. Boone Pickens Collection,” a landmark auction of American Western Art to be held on October 28, 2020.
From the organizers:
Famous for his larger-than-life personality, T. Boone Pickens was a legendary energy entrepreneur, a pioneer in shareholder’s rights and one of America’s best-known executives, as well as a philanthropist and civic leader. Pickens was also a visionary art collector who built a momentous collection over the course of his career. Spanning over a century, the collection features works by many established artists in American Art history, including Frederic Remington, Thomas Moran, and N.C. Wyeth, together with prominent contemporary painters in the genre, such as Howard Terpning and G. Harvey. Comprised of approximately 75 lots, the auction is expected to exceed $15 million, a portion of which will benefit charity.
“Flags on the Frontier”
oil on canvas
37 ¼ x 56 in.
Painted in 2001.
$700,000-1,000,000
Tylee Abbott, Specialist of American Art, comments, “Mr. Pickens’ assemblage serves as an extension of himself, a kind of self-portrait of the collector. The art with which he chose to surround himself consistently depicts the bold, strong-willed personages of the West and the endurance of the American spirit. The ambition and daring embodied by these pioneers are the qualities that not only contributed to Mr. Pickens’ own legend as an American icon, but have also built the legend that is the West.”
Capera Ryan, Christie’s Deputy Chairman, comments, “T. Boone Pickens was known for his transformation of the American energy industry as an entrepreneur, and for his generous philanthropy, but not as many know of T. Boone Pickens the art collector. Mr. Pickens would say it was the oil fields of Texas that gave rise to his success, but he always understood the importance of adapting to the energy industry’s constantly evolving landscapes. It was the Western landscapes and its inhabitants that inspired both his own art collecting and friendships with artists. Christie’s is honored to celebrate Mr. Pickens’ legacy as a passionate American steward and philanthropist and to share his dynamic vision of Western art with a global audience.”
“Boomtown Drifters”
oil on canvas
42 x 60 in.
Painted in 1979.
$300,000-500,000
About the Collection:
T. Boone Pickens’ collection is distinguished by its scope, including masterpieces ranging from Frederic Remington’s “The Signal of 1900” to Howard Terpning’s “Flags on the Frontier” from 2001. With this unique combination of both traditional and modern paintings, the dynamic works in the collection reveal Mr. Pickens’ deep understanding and dedication to the Western Art category and, moreover, his lifelong admiration of the boldness and creativity of the American pioneering spirit.
“The Signal (If Skulls Could Speak)”
oil on canvas
40 x 27 in.
$3,000,000-5,000,000
Frederic Remington’s remarkable oil painting “The Signal (If Skulls Could Speak)” is at the forefront of the collection (estimate: $3,000,000-5,000,000). Remington’s depictions of the action and drama of the American West were unrivaled among his generation, and this painting dramatically represents one of the enduring themes of his art, the Native American.
Painted here within the traditional art historical archetype of a solitary figure on a rearing horse, Remington’s Native American is established as a heroic icon whose bravery defines the Western spirit. The painter’s talents as a storyteller are exemplified by this bold composition, which transports the viewer to an earlier era of the Old West.
“Indian Love Call”
oil on canvas mounted on plywood
45 x 68 in.
$2,000,000-3,000,000
N.C. Wyeth’s masterwork “Indian Love Call” (estimate: $2,000,000-3,000,000) similarly celebrates a Native American subject, with the grandeur and romanticism that have come to define the famed American illustrator’s career.
The collection also features similarly-styled historic depictions of American cowboys, ranging from Charles Marion Russell’s “Roping a Wolf” (estimate: $700,000 – $1,000,000) to Frank Tenney Johnson’s “Wyoming Cattlemen” ($250,000-350,000).
In addition to the historic paintings, Mr. Pickens was also determined to collect significant examples by contemporary Western artists, such as Howard Terpning, Bob Kuhn, and G. Harvey, for whom he served as a major patron.
Pickens also directly commissioned from leading landscape artists Clyde Aspevig and Wilson Hurley specific works depicting his beloved Mesa Vista Ranch in the Texas Panhandle. In this pairing of traditional and modern visions, Mr. Pickens’ collection was purposefully designed to fully capture the spirit of the West, thereby embodying the mentality that spurred his own life as an American pioneer and innovator.
Additionally, the sale will include two watches and an assortment of cufflinks belonging to T. Boone Pickens. These include the beloved Rolex Day-Date President that Pickens wore regularly since its purchase in 1964, the year he famously took the oil and gas company he founded, Mesa Petroleum, public. The offering of cufflinks includes those featuring the Mesa Petroleum insignia, oil drums, a bull and bear and Mr. Picken’s initials.
For more information about “The Legend of the West: Iconic Works from the T. Boone Pickens Collection,” please visit christies.com.
> Sign up to receive Fine Art Today, our free weekly e-newsletter
> Click here to subscribe to Fine Art Connoisseur magazine, so you never miss an issue
Register for Realism Live here > realismlive.com
