Rare Frederick Childe Hassam Painting Leads Hess’ Auction

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida — Anticipation is building with art collectors for a much buzzed about painting that is one of the leading lots of Hess Fine Auctions’ Summer Showcase on Saturday, June 19.

The rare painting, by prominent American impressionist Frederick Childe Hassam, is an oil-on-panel titled Isle of Shoals, and is a sunset painting on the back of a cigar box.

“It does get much more Tampa-centric than this,” noted Brandon Peck, auction coordinator for Hess Fine Auctions. “Being in the Tampa/St. Petersburg metro area, beaches and cigars are life, though this piece was most likely created during Hassam’s sojourn in Appledore, as it is dated 1909, a time when similar works of his were created.”

The oil-on-panel by Childe Hassam has a pre-sale estimate of $20,000-$30,000.

Courtesy of Hess Fine Auctions

The 6-inch by 9-1/2-inch painting displays bright, broad strokes of oil paint displaying a transitioning sky of yellow and red, with hints of green on a long stretch of beach with what appears to be distant rocks or a boat looming on the horizon.

The much-anticipated catalogue raisonné of Childe Hassam (1859-1935) came to fruition in May of 2020, with the dedicated work of Stuart P. Feld and Kathleen M. Burnside of Hirschl & Adler Galleries. Feld began the catalogue raisonné in 1976.

Jump ahead one year after the Hassam catalog’s release and pieces are still turning up.

“We are extremely excited to have come across this piece,” said Jeffrey P. Hess of Hess Fine Auctions. ”A related piece (Hassam painting) sold for over $70,000 and the one we have for our June 19 Summer Showcase Auction is larger!”

With confirmation from Hess Fine Auctions that Hirschl and Adler consider this piece a part of their catalogue raisonné, the excitement for collectors is palpable.

“We’ve never seen such anticipation,” Hess said.

The Hassam painting is not the only stand-out piece. The auction features 160 other lots of antiques, fine art, silver time pieces, and objets d’art. Other highlights include:

Oil-on-canvas painting titled, “Acoma Cathedral of the Desert, New Mexico,” by Arts and Crafts California impressionist Gerald Cassidy, circa 1924, image is 26″ x 32″, with frame 39-1/2″ x 33-1/2″; estimate: $120,000-$125,000.

Courtesy of Hess Fine Auctions

A rare Presidential Seal Waltham 14k gold 23J 16s Maximus Shipwreck Award pocket watch, circa 1900s, inscription in cuvet reads, “From The President of The United States Captain Chr. Christensen of the Danish Steamship Generalconsul Pallisen in recognition of his humane services in effecting the rescue. Oct 4th 1908 of the Captain and crew of the American Schooner George Sturgis wrecked at sea”; estimate: $6,000-$8,000.

Courtesy of Hess Fine Auctions