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Keeneland Sporting Art Auction To Be Held November 19

Keeneland

Keeneland Association and Cross Gate Gallery of Lexington, Ky., will collaborate to host the second Sporting Art Auction on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 4 p.m. in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion.

The 2014 collection features 175 high-quality lots representing fine sporting art, American paintings and sculpture from renowned artists. The artwork will be exhibited for public viewing in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion beginning with the September Yearling Sale, to be held Sept. 8-21.

“We received great support last year from the Central Kentucky community, the horse industry and sporting art collectors who enthusiastically embraced the inaugural auction,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Walt Robertson said. “The success of that event confirmed the demand for fine sporting art, and created anticipation for an annual sale.”

One of this year’s most prominent pieces is N.C. Wyeth’s “The Horse Race,” a 40” x 32” oil on canvas depicting two jockeys on horseback racing neck and neck. Wyeth originally painted the work for James Boyd’s book Drums, published by Charles Scribner’s Sons in 1928. 

Another significant piece is French artist Isidore Jules Bonheur’s “Un Taureau Et Un Ours” (A Bull and a Bear), a 30” x 41¼” bronze first shown at the Paris Salon in 1857. Bonheur is known to have produced only two of this subject in this size. One was displayed in the Luncheon Club of the New York Stock Exchange for decades and now resides in the Museum of American Finance (in New York City). The second bronze is the one offered here.

One of the more intriguing pieces is Richard Stone Reeves’ “Three Kings,” a 28” x 36” oil on canvas depicting champions Nijinsky II, Spectacular Bid and Secretariat with grooms at Claiborne Farm.

Also featured will be 19th century and 20th century works by such celebrated artists as Sir Alfred Munnings, Edward Troye, John Frederick Herring Sr., Henry Stull and the French sculptor Emmanuel Fremiet, as well as contemporary pieces by Andre Pater, Larry Wheeler, noted British marine painter Richard Firth and Western American artist Theodore Waddell.

“We have traveled throughout the U.S. and Europe to acquire important pieces we feel confident will generate great interest,” Cross Gate Gallery owner Greg Ladd said. “This Sporting Art Auction has all the right elements to be the premier sale of its kind – a world-class venue in Keeneland and the ability to reach a global audience of sporting art collectors through Keeneland’s racing and sales clientele.”

Catalogs are available from Sporting Art Auction representatives in the Limestone Café, located in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion. Inquiries are welcome via the website, by email to info@thesportingartauction.com or by calling Cross Gate Gallery at (859) 233-3856.

In 2013, LeRoy Neiman’s Flat Racing, a one-of-a-kind glazed ceramic tile mural, sold for $291,000, including buyer premium, to top the inaugural Sporting Art Auction. Total sales for the 2013 auction surpassed $3.1 million. More than three-quarters of the 174 lots sold, with nearly half of those bringing final bids in excess of their high estimate values.

In keeping with the Keeneland Association’s mission, Keeneland’s portion of the auction proceeds will benefits its non-profit initiatives, including the Keeneland Library Foundation.

Story provided by Keeneland

Paul Hitchcock earned his Masters in Communications from Morehead State University and Bachelors in Radio-TV/Psychology from Georgetown College. A veteran broadcaster for more than 40 years and an avid fan of blues, jazz and American roots music. Hitchcock has been with WMKY since 1986 and was named General Manager in 2003. He currently hosts "Muddy Bottom Blues" (Fri., 8pm-9pm), "Nothin' But The Blues" (Sat., 8pm-12am), "Sunday Night Jazz Showcase" and "Live From The Jazz Lounge" (Sun., 8pm-9pm) and "The Golden Age of Radio" (Sun., 2pm-3pm). He also serves as producer for "A Time For Tales" and "The Reader's Notebook."
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