Milton Avery

Avery, Milton
Biography: (1885-1965) Studied at Connecticut League of Art Students under Charles Noel Flagg. Member of Fed. Modern P & S, Independent Artists and Woodstock AA. Exhibited at S. Indianapolis, 1927-34, PAFA, 1929-64, CAFA, 1930 (prize), AIC, 1932, Durand-Ruel Gallery, NYC, 1943-50, Corcoran Gallery, 1941-63, BM, Newark Museum, Albright Art. Gal., WMAA, BMA, 1949 (prize), Ford Foundation, BMA (retrospective), Smithsonian Institute, Wadsworth Atheneum, NYC WPA Art, Salons of America and many others. Works at: MMA, WMAA, MoMA, NMAA, Newark Museum, BM, Phillip's College, PAFA, Albright Art Gallery. One of nation's pioneering colorist. Active in Provincetown, 1956 and 1960. Very well listed artist.

	Lot 30 Artist: signed Milton Avery * Biography: (1885-1965) Studied at Connecticut League of Art Students under Charles Noel Flagg. Member of Fed. Modern P & S, Independent Artists and Woodstock AA. Exhibited at S. Indianapolis, 1927-34, PAFA, 1929-64, CAFA, 1930 (prize), AIC, 1932, Durand-Ruel Gallery, NYC, 1943-50, Corcoran Gallery, 1941-63, BM, Newark Museum, Albright Art. Gal., WMAA, BMA, 1949 (prize), Ford Foundation, BMA (retrospective), Smithsonian Institute, Wadsworth Atheneum, NYC WPA Art, Salons of America and many others. Works at: MMA, WMAA, MoMA, NMAA, Newark Museum, BM, Phillip's College, PAFA, Albright Art Gallery. One of nation's pioneering colorist. Active in Provincetown, 1956 and 1960. Very well listed artist. Title: Untitled Medium: oil on canvas Art Size (H x W): 23 x 29 Signed: slr Notes: dated 1947, the painting comes with the letter stating this painting is not a Milton Avery by the Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, Inc. and also the provenance, all owners (current and past) and all information that was submitted at time of consignment. Frame Size (H x W): - Frame Style: none Condition: fair, this painting was recently varnished by the seller est. $80000 - $120000 Opening Bid: $20000 FRONT SIGNATURE BACK BACK CLOSE FRONT CLOSE FRONT CLOSE 2 FRONT CLOSE 3 FRONT CLOSE 4 * Auctioneer’s Note: This painting was consigned to me about a month and a half ago. It became the property of the current seller through an estate settlement of Alice Cushman Thomas, also previously known as Alice Collins (a former married name). She moved to Poultney, Vermont sometime in the 1930’s and was very involved in the Poultney, Vermont Historical Society. She also owned a lot of land in the surrounding areas including lakefront property at Lake St. Catherine. Part of that land she donated for a bird sanctuary. She also was well known for her antique bottle collection/shop. As the story was told to me and what I researched conclusively was that she had many cottages along the lakefront of Lake St. Catherine and she was quite known throughout New York artist/writers circles as many of them rented her cottages, including Milton Avery and his family who had arranged a stay there and used this painting as a sort of barter. The painting hanged in her glass bottle room in her home in Poultney, Vermont from the moment she was given the painting. The date of this painting is 1947. In the late 1990’s, she became ill and remained in a nursing home for the rest of her life. She died in 2007. On researching this painting and the possibility of it truly being a “Milton Avery” painting, I found a very interesting painting titled “White Sea” that was exhibited at the Whitney Museum in 1982. It is part of a private collection. The striking similarities are in the sky, the white sea, the upper island. The “White Sea” is a much larger finished painting measuring 31.25 x 39.25. This painting, measures 23 x 29 and is in a crude stretcher and looks to be painted on top of another painting. The verso exhibits a painting also and major cracking/flaking to the point the painting on the back is impossible to decipher. This painting was given to the Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, Inc. to inspect and they decided it was not done by Milton Avery. It has not been shown to any other “experts” in the field due to the limited amount of time before this upcoming auction. Now, I have to ask, not only the Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, Inc., but of anyone with some common sense, how did this painting signed and dated 1947 and from the family’s exact words, given to Alice from Milton become a fake? Milton was in no way the collected artist he is today hence I very much doubt someone forged or faked this painting way back then. If the painting in question had changed a number of hands prior to it’s consignment to me, then I would question the authenticity of the painting but it didn’t, it hanged in that one room up in Poultney, Vermont until the current owner received it in the estate settlement. As much as I respect the opinion of the Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, Inc., I still cannot explain this painting. The family that owned and consigned this painting I have found to be completely honest and above reproach. I have absolutely no reason to disbelieve the facts given to me regarding Alice Collins. My personal opinion (with relatively little weight since, as I am the very first to admit, I am definitely not an expert on Milton Avery paintings) and gut feeling are that this painting was a study by Milton Avery to create the larger “White Sea”. It probably was never supposed to ever be seen in public but perhaps Alice loved it so much that she bartered and bargained with him for it. Anyway, so there you go. Buyer beware, as is where is. I invite you to inspect the painting and you decide if it is what it is or not. Thanks, Terry Catalano, Ma. #2539
	Lot # 20 Artist: Avery, Milton Title: Self Portrait Medium: original drawing (ink on paper) Size (H x W): 5.5 x 3.5 Signature: slm Notes: dated 1959, includes State Farm Appraiser Authentication papers and number: 8q659ss978, dated Sept. 12, 1999. Frame Size (H x W): 11.75 x 9.25 Frame Style: gold gilt/black matte/museum glass Condition: very good FRAME SIGNATURE BACK BACK CLOSE BACK CLOSE 2	sold 1,265.00 2.14.10