Shannon’s Fall art auction to feature top American, Modern and European works

Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers will hold its annual Fall Fine Art Auction on Oct. 29 in Milford, Connecticut, with more than 200 lots across American art, Modern art and European paintings. The sale is led by an attributed Alfred Jacob Miller painting estimated at $200,000 to $300,000, alongside major works by Willard Leroy Metcalf, Wifredo Lam and others.

Why it matters: - Shannon’s is bringing a broad mix of 19th-century American art, Modernist works and European paintings to market in one high-profile fall sale. - The auction includes several six-figure estimates and works with museum-level subject matter, which can draw both private collectors and institutions. - The lineup also reflects continued demand for rare regional American paintings, modernist compositions and historically significant views of American life.

What happened: - Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers will host its annual Fall Fine Art Auction on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. Eastern Time in Milford, Connecticut. - The auction will feature more than 200 lots. - The sale will spotlight quality American art, Modern art and European paintings. - A painting attributed to Alfred Jacob Miller titled Green River leads the auction. - Green River is estimated at $200,000 to $300,000.

The details: - Green River was painted in 1851 and depicts a rendezvous of Native Americans, fur traders and pioneers. - Miller first traveled to the Rocky Mountains in 1837 and later used field sketches for studio compositions. - At least three other versions of the composition are held in museum collections. - Willard Leroy Metcalf’s Spring at Leete’s Island will be offered at auction for the first time. - Spring at Leete’s Island has been in a private collection since 1985 and has documented provenance back to the artist. - The Metcalf painting is estimated at $150,000 to $250,000. - Metcalf spent many summers on the Connecticut shoreline, especially with Florence Griswold at her inn in Old Lyme. - Wifredo Lam’s Personnage N. 1 is estimated at $150,000 to $250,000. - Shannon’s sold Lam’s Personnage N. 2 in spring 2025 for $266,700 including buyer’s premium. - Both Personnage works were collected together in Italy and descended in a family collection. - Henrietta Mary Shore’s Beach Flower is estimated at $40,000 to $60,000. - Beach Flower is an abstract shell-like composition related to Georgia O’Keeffe’s work. - The Shore painting is expected to attract both private collectors and museums. - Henry Koerner’s The Bride measures 56 inches by 40 inches and is being offered at auction for the first time. - The 1950 painting is estimated at $100,000 to $150,000. - The work shows a bride leaving a municipal office after getting married. - Three male figures in the composition resemble one another, creating an eerie effect. - Rice in the foreground contrasts with the scene’s celebratory mood. - Laurence A. Campbell’s Broadway in Winter is one of three New York City paintings in the sale. - Broadway in Winter measures 24 inches by 20 inches and is estimated at $30,000 to $50,000. - The painting shows American flags lining a busy New York street. - Shannon’s is positioning the Campbell painting as a highlight of broader 250th anniversary celebrations. - Rackstraw Downes’ Approach to Holland Tunnel with 75 Varick is estimated at $70,000 to $90,000. - Downes is known for hyper-realistic compositions with complex perspectives and bending horizons. - Downes painted en plein air without using a camera. - Charles Courtney Curran’s painting is estimated at $25,000 to $35,000. - The Curran work shows a figure group framed by blossoming mountain laurel. - Irving Ramsay Wiles’ Peconic studio painting measures 34 inches by 46 inches and is estimated at $40,000 to $60,000. - The Wiles composition includes high ceilings and sparsely furnished interiors with Japanese and Chinese antiques. - Martha Walter’s oil painting of three ladies under an umbrella is estimated at $30,000 to $50,000. - Eastman Johnson’s Pig-a-Back leads the 19th-century American section. - Pig-a-Back was painted in 1866 during the Reconstruction era. - The work shows a younger sibling riding on an older sister’s back as the children cross a stream. - William Trost Richards’ Autumn Landscape is estimated at $60,000 to $80,000. - The Richards painting shows fall foliage along a wooded creek with a lone figure on a hiking trail. - Thomas Worthington Whittredge’s picnic scene on the Hudson River is estimated at $20,000 to $30,000. - The Whittredge painting dates to around 1860. - Whittredge expert Anthony Jansen identified the scene as likely Grand View, just below South Nyack. - The sale will also include a portfolio of works by Fidelia Bridges. - John Steuart Curry’s circus scene is estimated at $30,000 to $50,000. - Robert E. Weaver’s large-format circus painting is estimated at $8,000 to $12,000. - Weaver’s 48-inch by 48-inch composition shows a parade of elephants with a dancer perched on a trunk. - Carl Holsoe’s painting of a woman reading by a sunlit window leads the European offerings. - The Holsoe work is estimated at $60,000 to $80,000. - Other artists in the auction include Luigi Lucioni, Bob Ross, Emile Albert Gruppe, Theodore Penleigh Boyd, Winslow Homer, John F. Folinsbee, Walter E. Schofield, Peng Wei, Eric Sloane, Jane Peterson, Carrie Mae Weems and Aaron Douglas. - Shannon’s will hold a public preview at its gallery from Oct. 19 through Oct. 28 on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. - The gallery will also host preview hours on Saturday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET. - Shannon’s invites email signups for sale updates at shannons.com and accepts consignments year-round. - Questions about the auction or consignments can be directed to 203-877-1711 or info@shannons.com.

Between the lines: - The auction mix suggests Shannon’s is leaning on breadth: blue-chip American painting, Modernism, European interiors and a few unusual themes like circus scenes. - Several lots have strong provenance or exhibition-style appeal, which can widen interest beyond traditional local collectors. - The estimates signal a top-heavy sale, with the Miller, Metcalf, Lam, Downes and Holsoe works likely to anchor bidding.

What's next: - Public viewing runs in Milford through Oct. 28 before the live auction on Oct. 29. - Bidder interest will likely build around the lead lots as preview dates approach. - Shannon’s is also seeking quality consignments year-round for future sales.

The bottom line: - Shannon’s fall sale is built around scarcity, strong attribution and a mix of American and international art that could drive competitive bidding across several categories.