Can this painting break a $7.85 million world record at Keeneland art auction?
Keeneland is about to take a run at a record, this time in the art world.
A rare painting by British artist Sir Alfred Munnings will be up for bids in the tenth annual Keeneland Sporting Art Auction on Nov. 18, produced by Cross Gate Gallery owner Greg Ladd.
This year’s auction will feature nearly 200 lots, likely to be topped by museum-caliber works by Munnings.
“Going Out, Epsom” is expected to be sold for anywhere between $3 million and $5 million, according to a news release on the auction. The starting bid is $1.5 million.
The world record price for a work by Munnings was set in 2004 by “The Red Prince Mare,” which sold for $7.85 million.
Why is priceless Munnings painting at auction, could it set a new record?
“Of course it’s hard to say what the Munnings might bring,” Ladd said in a statement. “I know it certainly didn’t fly under the radar because we promoted it pretty strongly.”
How did the Munnings painting end up in this auction?
“It’s from a private collection, consigned by a good friend and longtime client,” Ladd said. “We’ve been talking about it for several years. He’s comfortable that we can get it in front of the target market better than anyone out there.”
Friday’s auction is expected to set a new record for the Cross Gate Gallery art sale at Keeneland: In the first auction in 2013, a Leroy Neiman ceramic mural that sold for $291,000, Ladd said. The top price paid since then was $276,000 in 2016 for a work by Andre Pater, “The Red Arrow.”
Works of art of interest at Keeneland Sporting Art Auction
Besides the “Going Out, Epsom” painting, other Munnings’ works in this year’s auction include “Hop Pickers at Hampshire,” called a pivotal work in Munnings’ collection, featuring a portrayal of gypsy life. The painting also played a significant role in Munnings rise to popularity in the British art world, according to the news release. Bidding for it starts at $75,000.
Munnings (1878-1959) is best known painting his favorite animal, the horse. But he also grew in popularity for his Impressionist work of rural scenes, racing, portraits and hunting. The largest collection of his work is on display at The Munnings Art Museum in Dedham, a village in northeast Essex, England.
The auction also will include other works of interest including:
▪ A painting by Ukrainian artist Serhiy Hai, who needed to smuggle his painting out of Ukraine into Poland for it to appear at this year’s auction, according to the news release. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Ukrainian relief efforts.
▪ Thirteen works by Henry Faulkner, a former Lexington resident whose works are in the collections of Ernest Hemingway, Betty Davis, Marlon Brando and Tennessee Williams. Two Faulkner paintings hang in Hemingway’s Key West residence.
▪ The official 2022 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland pastel by Andre Pater.
Keeneland Sporting Art Auction
When: 4 p.m. on Nov. 18
Where: Keeneland Sales Pavilion. The catalogue can currently be viewed at thesportingartauction.com
How to bid: The Sporting Art Auction will be conducted in person. Participants must be registered, and can sign up via thesportingartauction.com, or by calling 859-233-3856. Bidding will also be conducted by phone, absentee bid, and online through thesportingartauction.com, liveauctioneers.com, or invaluable.com.
