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Lot 55: HELEN MARIA TURNER, American (1858-1958), "Portrait of Anne Spencer," c. 1925, oil on canvas, signed and inscribed lower left "Helen...

Est: $30,000 USD - $50,000 USDSold:
3 b's Shannon'sMilford, CT, USDecember 04, 2021

Item Overview

Description

HELEN MARIA TURNER
American (1858-1958)
"Portrait of Anne Spencer," c. 1925
oil on canvas, signed and inscribed lower left "Helen M. Turner N.Y."
40 x 30 inches

Provenance: Mr. Lawrence Spencer Pratt, Williamsville, New York; Private Collection, New York.

Exhibitions: National Arts Club, New York, New York, "Member's Annual Exhibition of Paintings and Sculpture" January 13 - February 6, 1926; The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., "Tenth Exhibition Contemporary American Oil Paintings, 1926;" Cragsmoor Free Library, Cragsmoor, New York," Helen M. Turner, N.A., "A Retrospective Exhibition," July 2 - 17 1983; Akron Art Museum, Akron, Ohio, September 11 - November 6, 1983; Jersey City Museum, Jersey City, New Jersey, December 10, 1983 - February 1, 1984; Owensboro Museum of Fine Art, Owensboro, Kentucky, March 2 - April 5, 1984.

Literature: A copy of the exhibition catalog accompanies the lot.

Other Notes: A label from Akron Art Museum, Akron, Ohio is on the reverse.

Tags: portrait, American Impressionism, female artist, woman artist, 20th century

Trained at New York's Art Students League and Cooper Union in the late 1890s, Helen Maria Turner was also a beloved member of the Cragsmoor Artist Colony. Her typically quiet, yet lush works place her in the company of well-known American Impressionists such as Mary Cassatt, John Singer Sargent and, her friend, William Merritt Chase. Her figurative works, the vast majority of which focused on women and girls, are her most iconic. The unique beauty in these figurative paintings lies in her uncanny ability to evoke some facet of her sitter's true personalities - seemingly effortlessly captured in moments of everyday activity or moments of contemplation.

Turner was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1858 to upper middle-class parents - her father was a prosperous coal merchant, and her mother was the daughter of a doctor, and the granddaughter of John Pintard, founder of the New York Historical Society (1804) and the American Academy of Fine Arts (1816). In the aftermath of the Civil War, the family lost their fortune and by the age of thirteen, Turner was orphaned. Subsequently living with her uncle's family in challenging financial conditions, Turner struggled for years with the dilemma of how to support herself on the outskirts of the genteel society she was been born into.

While attending classes at Tulane University and the New Orleans Artists' Association, Turner was encouraged by her instructor Bror Anders Wikstrom to move to New York and enter the Art Students League. She began to show her art in New York during these early years, she also enrolled at Columbia's Teachers College and began teaching as a temporary instructor. From 1902 to 1919, she taught scores of young women drafting - training them to sketch rapidly, a skill needed by fashion houses, magazines, department stores, and greeting card companies to name a few. At the same time, her presence in the gallery world grew and after 1906 her paintings were regularly included in juried museum shows around the country.

In 1912, her Young Woman with Jewels won the National Arts Prize for 'best work in the exhibition' and was sold to the distinguished collector George A. Hearn. Her work was notably included in the traveling exhibition of 1917 "Six American Women" along with Mary Cassatt, Jane Peterson, Martha Walter, Alice Schille, and Johanna H. K. Hailmann. In 1921, Turner became the fourth woman to be elected to full Academician status by the National Academy of Design, and the first from Louisiana.

In 1906, Turner became acquainted with the Cragsmoor Artist Colony near Ellenville, New York, through the Impressionist Charles Courtney Curran. The years from 1905 to 1926 were her most active and the influence of Cragsmoor on those years was undeniable. She was known to have a stunning garden with the most unusual flora, a clear inspiration for what could be thought of as the 'Cragsmoor effect' on her work - sun-dappled foliage painted in a mosaic of shimmering colors. But the effects of summer light and colors were not all that went into these works, it was also the quiet energy of a small enclave in the mountains, far removed from the hustle and bustle of New York City. The famed collector and critic Duncan Philips who owned several of her works described her as "a painter of unpretentious portraits, of landscapes with gentle girls in gardens, of the intimate hours of life in the seclusion of homes. Miss Turner reveals, unconsciously, the woman's point of view. Her interiors are especially feminine with their swift yet searching glance over the texture of materials, the influence of light, the character of a room, and the relation of people to their dwelling place." [1]

Portrait of Ann Spencer depicts the young Ann Spencer (Pratt). About 12 years old at the time, Spencer would later become a well-known painter herself and surely was inspired by her time spent at Cragsmoor. Spencer is perched on the artist's porch in Cragsmoor enveloped by the luscious foliage of the garden, with a play of sun and shadow across her figure. She seems destined for some great activity. This painting is one of the last major canvases by Turner not already in a museum collection.

Artist or Maker

Condition Report

Comments:
Contact the gallery for further information.

Framed dimensions - 45 1/2 x 35 1/2 x 2 inches


In response to your inquiry, 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 PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE

Payment & Shipping

Payment

Accepted forms of payment: American Express, 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 jvonflatern3757@theupsstore.com or 203-453-8866.
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.

Auction Details

Fine Art Auction

by
3 b's Shannon's
December 04, 2021, 06:00 PM EST

49 Research Drive, Milford, CT, 06460, US

Terms

Live bidding may start higher or lower

Buyer's Premium

$0 - 200,000:30.0%
$200,001+:25.0%

Bidding Increments

From:To:Increment:
$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$2,000
$50,000$99,999$5,000
$100,000+$10,000

Terms and Conditions

Shannon's LLC Fine Art Auctioneers acts solely as an agent for various owners and consignors. It exercises care in describing all
items listed and uses judgment in attributing authorship, but offers
no guarantee regarding authenticity, condition, or description.
The items described in this catalog, which description may be
amended by notice or announcement at sale time, are offered for
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BIDDING AT THIS AUCTION, WHETHER IN PERSON, BY AGENT, ORDER
BID, TELEPHONE, INTERNET OR OTHER MEANS, CONSTITUTES YOUR
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND ACCEPTANCE OF THESE "CONDITIONS
OF SALE".
CONDITIONS OF SALE
After: A work of art or object made in the style of an artist or maker, but not by the artist. Sometimes refers multiples that may have used an
artist's mold or plate, but were reproduced by someone other than the artist, including posthumous works. Can also be used to describe a
direct reproduction after an original work of art.
Attributed (attr.): In our opinion, probably or possibly a work of art by the artist. The work is either unsigned, and/or lacks adequate provenance or authentication by experts in the field.
Bears Signature: The work is signed, but the work and signature may not be by the hand of the artist.
Manner of: Made in the likeness or style of an artist, with a slight possibility that it was made by the artist or by a follower or student of the
artist. Also see "After" and "Attributed".
Possibly: Being something that may or may not be true or actual without guarantee.
Probably: Supported by evidence strong enough to establish presumption but not proof. We do not guarantee it to be true.
School: Usually relates to a particular artistic or aesthetic movement. It can also relate to an actual school or to followers of a particular artist
or maker. Also see: "Manner of", "Style", "Attributed to" and "After".
Style: After the time period in which the style originated, or a more recent reproduction (ie: Style of Pablo Picasso or Cubist Style), used to
refer to the style of a particular artist or artistic movement, generally made long after that time period.

Contract

Your bid is a binding and legal contract. BIDDING AT THIS AUCTION, WHETHER IN PERSON, BY AGENT, ORDER BID, TELEPHONE, INTERNET OR OTHER MEANS, CONSTITUTES YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND ACCEPTANCE OF THESE "CONDITIONS OF SALE".

Payment Information

Payment may be made by cash, check or wire transfer. Visa, Master Card and Amex may be used up to the amount of $5,000 per auction. We currently
collect sales tax in CT, KS, MA, MI, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI and
VA and remit the appropriate sales tax. If we do not collect sales
tax in your state, it is still your responsibility to pay the proper tax
on your purchases.
ALL ITEMS MUST BE PAID FOR WITHIN 14 DAYS OF THE SALE, AT WHICH POINT THEY WILL BE RELEASED FOR SHIPMENT OR DELIVERY.

Shipping Information

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 jvonflatern3757@theupsstore.com or 203-453-8866.
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.

Buyer's Premium

A premium of 25% of the successful bid will be applied to the
individual hammer price of all lots sold, to be paid by the buyer
as part of the purchase price. Purchases made through
Invaluable will be subject to an additional 5% charge (30%
total buyer's premium) and purchases made online through
shannons.com will be subject to an additional 2% charge
(27% buyer's premium). Payment may be made by, check,
ACH or wire transfer. Visa, MasterCard and Amex may
be used up to the amount of $5,000 per auction. We currently
collect sales tax in CT, KS, MA, MI, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI and
VA and remit the appropriate sales tax. If we do not collect sales
tax in your state, it is still your responsibility to pay the proper tax
on your purchases.
ALL ITEMS MUST BE PAID FOR WITHIN 14 DAYS OF THE SALE, AT WHICH POINT THEY WILL BE RELEASED FOR SHIPMENT OR DELIVERY.

Taxes on your purchase

We currently collect sales tax in CT, KS, MA, MI, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI and
VA and remit the appropriate sales tax. If we do not collect sales
tax in your state, it is still your responsibility to pay the proper tax
on your purchases.
ALL ITEMS MUST BE PAID FOR WITHIN 14 DAYS OF THE SALE, AT WHICH POINT THEY WILL BE RELEASED FOR SHIPMENT OR DELIVERY.

Condition Statement & Glossary of Terms

Shannon's LLC Fine Art Auctioneers acts solely as an agent for various owners and consignors. It exercises care in describing all items listed and uses judgment in attributing authorship, but offers no guarantee regarding authenticity, condition, or description. The items described in this catalog, which description may be amended by notice or announcement at sale time, are offered for sale by Shannon's LLC as agent for various owners or others authorized to sell the items.

Glossary of Terms:
After:A work of art or object made in the style of an artist or maker, but not by the artist. Sometimes refers multiples that may have used an artist's mold or plate, but were reproduced by someone other than the artist, including posthumous works. Can also be used to describe a direct reproduction after an original work of art.
Attributed (attr.):In our opinion, probably or possibly a work of art by the artist. The work is either unsigned, and/or lacks adequate provenance or authentication by experts in the field.
Bears Signature: The work is signed, but the work and signature may not be by the hand of the artist.
Manner of: Made in the likeness or style of an artist, with a slight possibility that it was made by the artist or by a follower or student of the artist. Also see "After" and "Attributed".
Possibly:Being something that may or may not be true or actual without guarantee.
Probably:Supported by evidence strong enough to establish presumption but not proof. We do not guarantee it to be true.
School:Usually relates to a particular artistic or aesthetic movement. It can also relate to an actual school or to followers of a particular artist or maker. Also see:"Manner of", "Style", "Attributed to" and "After".
Style:After the time period in which the style originated, or a more recent reproduction (ie: Style of Pablo Picasso or Cubist Style), used to refer to the style of a particular artist or artistic movement, generally made long after that time period.