53

GUY CARLETON WIGGINS
American, (1883-1962)
A View of Broad Street, The New York Stock Exchange, and the Treasury Building in the Distance
oil on canvas
signed lower right "Guy Wiggins," inscribed in pencil on the stretcher "6160 Financial District"

oil on canvas
24 x 30 inches

  • Provenance: Mrs. Charles Bingham, Chicago, Illinois; By descent in the family; Sotheby's, New York, New York, October 10, 2007, lot 210; Private Collection, New York.
  • Notes: A copy of a letter from Guy A. Wiggins confirming the authenticity of this painting accompanies this lot.
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    Guy C. Wiggins was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1883. His father, Carleton Wiggins, was an accomplished landscape painter who enjoyed a successful career as an artist. According to an article on the Wiggins family written in 2011, "He [Carleton Wiggins] pressed a palette and paints into his young son's hands. By age 4, Guy Carleton Wiggins was churning out watercolors that foreshadowed a talent greater than his father's." (Ann Farmer, New York Times, "A Family of Painters is Having Its Moment, Jun. 6, 2011)

    Wiggins first studied architecture at Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute then left to pursue fine arts training at the National Academy of Design. The architectural cityscape of New York City became his muse and he started painting famous buildings in an impressionistic style. He once said, "If you want to sell paintings, it helps if it's recognizable to many people."

    He became highly successful in the 1920s and 30s selling views of New York City architecture, particularly in the snow. In 1912, he became the youngest artist represented in the Metropolitan Museum's collection with a painting titled "Metropolitan Tower." He painted the Executive Mansion from the White House Lawn, a painting that hung in President Eisenhower's Office.

    The Great Depression took a toll on sales and Wiggins struggled in the years following the war. He moved with his family permanently to Essex, Connecticut and started the Guy Wiggins Art School. He became an active member of the Old Lyme Art Academy. He started to paint landscapes, however, he continued to paint New York City as a preferred subject, particularly on snowy days.

    Of this painting, depicting Broad Street, The New York Stock Exchange and the Treasury Building, Guy A. Wiggins (son of the artist) noted, "Snow is falling heavy and the atmospheric effects of falling snow on color and line are skillfully indicated." The busy taxi stop, numerous pedestrians, and waving flags all indicate a city undeterred by the weather.

    Wiggins' legacy was preserved in the history of American Art and his works are included in numerous public and private collections including the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, the National Gallery in Washington D.C., and the Art Institute of Chicago.
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    Framed dimensions: 31 1/2 x 37 1/2 x 2 inches

    Tags: oil painting, New York City, listed artist, NYSE, taxi
  • Condition: unlined canvas, faint stretcher bar marks upper center, two 1/4 inch dots of restoration apparent upper center, in otherwise excellent condition
    Condition Report Note:
    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. Thank you for your interest in our sale.

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