While sifting through a large box lot of art dropped off at the Larchmont, N.Y., gallery by what is known in the trade as a “picker,” Nelia Moore, art specialist/auctioneer at Clarke Auction spotted a beautifully executed but very dirty painting on panel of a woman in a veil. After dusting it off and studying the painting, she spotted the Prendergast Paris signature on the lower right of the panel.
The quality and style of the small oil led both Mr. Clarke, auction owner, and Ms. Moore to believe they had made a very important discovery, especially relevant in a time of economic gloom. The painting was sent to the Prendergast catalog raisonné expert, Nancy Mowell Mathews, of the Williams College Museum of Art in Massachusetts, and the museum experts concluded that this delicate panel painting was of the hand of Prendergast. It was given the title “Woman in a Veil” and assigned No. 11a in the catalogue raisonné.
The painting is to be auctioned at Clarke Auction Gallery at 2372 Boston Post Road, Larchmont, N.Y., on Sunday, Oct. 23 with a presale estimate of $40,000 to $60,000. The piece will be sold in as-found condition to the highest bidder. For more information, please visit www.ClarkeNY.com or call 914-833-8336.
