The Dawson & Nye September 23rd & 24th, 2009 Auction will feature Property From the Estate of John G. Scanlon, Naples, Florida, as well as classic and vintage automobiles, several leaves from John James Audubon’s Double Elephant Portfolio, a New Jersey painted and smoke-grained blanket chest, a collection of Norman Rockwell paintings with supporting documentation from the Estate of LeeMarie Bernstein, a personal friend of Norman Rockwell.
Dawson & Nye is offering an exceptional oil on poster board sketch, a study for “THE RIGHT TO KNOW”, BY NORMAN ROCKWELL (American, 1894-1978). Inscribed lower right corner. Sketch for “Right to Know”/My love to Abigail and/Dr. and Mrs. Maurice Bernstein/cordially Norman Rockwell. The painting is offered together with a 1968 exhibition folder from the Bernard Danenberg Galleries, using the finished piece on the cover, inscribed lower right corner, To Mr. Maurice, whose wife I love/Cordially Norman Rockwell.
“The Right to Know”, begun in 1967, was Rockwell`s artistic expression of the need for government disclosure and accountability regarding the ongoing and escalating Vietnam War. The finished piece is written about by Laurie Norman Moffett in “Norman Rockwell: A Definitive Catalogue” Vol. II, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, 1986, p. 713, no. S428b, illustrated. Sight size 132″h x 21″w with printer instructions written on the mat. Provenance: From the artist to Maurice and Leemarie (Abigail) Bernstein by descent to the consignor.
Additionally offered are four acrylic and watercolor paintings on board, studies for “UNEASY CHRISTMAS IN THE BIRTHPLACE OF CHRIST”, By Norman Rockwell (American, 1894-1978). Signed l.r.c. Norman Rockwell, depicting an Impressionistic rendering of Rockwell`s vision of the first Christmas, with shepherds in the foreground gazing at the distant city of Bethlehem on the horizon. Together with copies of correspondence on his stationery that Rockwell wrote about “Uneasy Christmas”, and a publisher`s letter on the same topic.
The four sketches, in the order in which they were painted, represent Rockwell`s take on the first Christmas, a far-off depiction of the walls of Bethlehem with houses in the foreground, the walls with crowds of people in front of them, and finally a very similar but much more detailed execution of the third image.
The canvas of the same name, based on these four sketches, is housed in the Norman Rockwell Museum. Story illustration for Look magazine in the December 29, 1970 issue, it depicts Israeli soldiers, Arabs and tourists mingling freely in Bethlehem. It is written about by Laurie Norman Moffett in “Norman Rockwell: A Definitive Catalogue” Vol. II, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, 1986, pp. 717-718, nos. S432b, S432c and S432d, illustrated. Sight size 13″h x 21″w
Rounding out the Rockwell items offered are three books signed by Norman Rockwell, an inscribed first edition copy of `THE NORMAN ROCKWELL ALBUM”, with written dedication and doodled sketch of “The Dog” by the artist; and a signed poster from a Look Magazine Illustration by the artist of “John James Audubon Observing Passenger Pigeons (Now Extinct)”.
The premier regional auction house of Dawson & Nye will have its first sale of the season. John Nye, President said “In addition to the Norman Rockwell paintings, we are pleased to present more than 900 lots of fine art, decorative art, furniture, silver, and jewelry as well as antique militaria, and vintage and classic cars for our first auction of the 2009-2010 auction season.” “Truly this is going to be one of our most interesting auctions we have had in quite some time given the eclectic nature of items we are offering.” Nye continued.
