Keeneland to host Sporting Art Auction

Scheduled for Nov. 19

LEXINGTON, KY (Aug. 21, 2014) — Keeneland Association and Cross Gate Gallery of Lexington 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.

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).

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 19^th century and 20^th 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.

Catalogs are available from Sporting Art Auction representatives in the Limestone Café, located in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion, beginning with the September Sale, or on the auction’s website.