52

GEORGE WESLEY BELLOWS

American, 1882-1925

Old Orchard, Newport, Rhode Island, 1919

oil on canvas
signed lower right "Geo Bellows", signed on the reverse
22 x 28 in. (55.9 x 71.1 cm.), Frame: 29 1/2 x 35 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (74.9 x 90.2 x 8.9 cm.)

  • Provenance: Estate of the Artist, 1925; Emma S. Bellows his wife; Estate of Emma S. Bellows, 1959; H. V. Allison & Co., New York, New York; George Berman, New Rochelle, New York, 1969; Christie's, New York, New York, December 9, 1983, lot 232; Private Collection, New York; Sotheby's, New York, New York, May 22, 2002, lot 65; Private Collection, New York
  • Exhibited: Hartford, Connecticut, 1920; New York, New York, M. Knoedler & Co., 1920; New York, New York, H. V. Allison & Co., 1954, 1965, 1968; Yonkers, New York, The Hudson River Museum, "Art in Westchester", September - November 1969, cat. no. 67; New York, New York, Davis & Long Company, 1974.
  • Literature: Artist's Record Book B, p. 180.
  • Notes: George Bellows was born in Columbus, Ohio and attended Ohio State University. In 1904 he moved to New York City to study with Robert Henri. Under Henri's influence Bellows became the leading young member of the Ashcan School. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Bellows never studied in Europe and was trained entirely in the United States. The present lot, "Old Orchard, Newport" was painted during the summer of 1919. He spent the summers of 1918 and 1919 in Newport and Middletown, Rhode Island with his family. In a newspaper society column of the time, it was noted that "Mr. Bellows, who is among the prominent artists of the country, is now using Newport views for his latest works." In addition to "Old Orchard", Bellows created three other major paintings that summer: "Portrait of Mrs. Chester Dale", "Paradise Point", and "The Tennis Tournament at Newport". The present lot is a larger painting than his usual landscapes from this period. From 1920-1924, Bellows and his family spent their summer and fall vacations in Woodstock, New York. The Woodstock Artists association was formed in 1919, and the area was increasingly drawing in artists including Robert Henri, Leon Kroll and Andrew Dasburg. In Woodstock, Bellows drew inspiration from the mountains, villages and barns that surrounded him. In 1911, the Metropolitan museum acquired his painting "Up the Hudson", making him one of the youngest artists in the collection at the time-- Bellows was twenty-nine. Bellows' tragic and sudden death from a ruptured appendix when he was only forty-two years old cut short an impressive career. In 1925, shortly after his death, the Met organized a memorial retrospective of his work and in 2013 hosted a blockbuster retrospective exhibition with over 100 works organized by the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. in association with The Met and the Royal Academy of Arts in London.
  • Condition: in very good overall condition; wax lined canvas; a few very small dots of restoration visible under UV; minor stable craquelure visible under raking light

    CONDITION REPORTS FOR THE AUCTION ARE AVAILABLE BY REQUEST. PLEASE CONTACT US FOR A CONDITION REPORT ON THIS LOT. THE ABSENCE OF A CONDITION REPORT OR THE ABSENCE OF A REFERENCE TO DAMAGE DOES NOT IMPLY THAT THE LOT IS IN GOOD CONDITION OR FREE FROM RESTORATION OR REPAIR.

    We are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Shannon’s is merely a subjective qualified opinion. Frames on all paintings are sold "As Is". Frames may need some conservation. 
    NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD “AS IS” IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE. 

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

As a convenience to the Buyer, Shannon's LLC will make a referral for packing and shipping. For a preliminary quote you may contact Jeff Von Flatern at [email protected] or 203-453-8866, Phil Buyse at [email protected] or (860) 561-1369, or Kristen Vineyard at Village Express 203-481-7426.

Shipping is at the request, expense, and risk of the Buyer, and Shannon's assumes no responsibility for the items or the timing of delivery. Insurance for in transit items is the responsibility of the buyer.

May 8, 2025 6:00 PM EDT
Milford, CT, US

Shannon's

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 27% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000