$259,000
William Bradford (American, 1823 - 1892) Arctic Sunset with the Ice Bound Panther. Signed and dated [18]75 l.r. Oil on artist's board, 9 x 13 3/4 in., in original ornate gilt-gesso frame. Condition: Very good, uncleaned, light scratch on left, minor craquelure, frame rub upper and left edges. Provenance: A note affixed to the reverse of the frame is inscribed: "For Minnie Ida Reynolds/Painted by Wm Bradford for my New Year's present-/Jan. 1st 1876." Provenance: According to family lore, this painting passed from Minnie Reynolds through the family to the present owner. Minnie Ida (Conant) Reynolds (1867-1952) was the daughter of Prelet Drake Conant (Sept. 23, 1833-March 23, 1900) and Jane Monroe Rounds (1825-December 16, 1905), a wealthy socialite couple living in Fall River, Massachusetts. Prelet was involved in insurance, real estate, and stocks and was a justice of the peace. He was one of the directors of Laurel Lake Mills, a textile mill in Fall River, which operated from 1881 to 1931. Jane was a patroness of the arts and she hosted gatherings with local artists, including William Bradford. Even as a child, Minnie greatly enjoyed and appreciated art, so much so that at a New Years party held by her mother on January 1, 1876, William Bradford gave her a painting of his as a gift. Minnie was only eight years old at the time. Minnie later married Ralph Reynolds. They never had any children, and Minnie doted on her grand-nephew William Sidney Bateman, Jr. (1899-1967) Read more…
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2009-11-08
