6 — Antiques and The Arts Weekly — July 28, 2017

American Sporting Art & Decoys— Copley’s Sporting Sale Features Donal C. O’Brien Jr Collection PLYMOUTH, MASS. — Cop- tutes a remarkably complete olina is considered by many to ley Fine Art Auctions will collection of classic sporting be the finest North Carolina present a two-day sale on July art and decoys. decoy in private hands and 27 and 28 at Hotel 1620. The O’Brien was one of the earli- one of the few Dudley carv- Donal C. O’Brien Jr collection est decoy collectors “who usu- ings that retains its original of American sporting art and ally went to the sources — bill. Thomas Chambers’ decoys, sessions 1 and 2, will family members, even the (1860–1948) wood duck is one be at auction on July 27, fol- carvers themselves...,” accord- of only two known in original lowed by the 12th edition of ing to a 2005 Forbes article by paint, and recognized as the Copley’s annual sporting sale Monte Burke. Burke quotes best of the two. It is widely “The Run Downstream” by Ogden M. Pleissner (1905–1983), on July 28. O’Brien: “‘When I was a young considered to be the finest oil on canvas, 24 by 36 inches ($80/120,000). Perennially balanced boy, while my friends were Canadian decoy ever to have between fine art and decoys, playing with electric trains surfaced. Additionally, the Copley will offer a wide range and teddy bears, I was out col- turned-head “dust jacket” plo- of American, folk, sporting lecting decoys.’” ver by famed Massachusetts and wildlife art. The sporting O’Brien acquired many carv- carver A. Elmer Crowell sale will offer the opportunity ings from their original con- (1862–1952) is the exact carv- to see and take home world- text as utility objects and was ing pictured on the cover of class paintings, fine bird carv- among the first to recognize the seminal publication Amer- ings and antique hunting and them as a true American art ican Bird Decoys by William J. fishing collectibles. form. O’Brien was very active Mackey Jr. Highlighting the decoy offer- in the 1950s and 1960s, trad- O’Brien’s collection of paint- ings on day two is the second ing with Adele Ernest, Mal- ings and prints includes mas- session of the Grant Nelson colm Fleming, William J. terworks by Frank W. Benson collection of shorebird decoys. Mackey Jr and other early (1862–1951), Pleissner, Rip- For two decades, Nelson’s collectors. Whereas Mackey ley, Roland Clark (1874–1957) focus was on acquiring exem- collected quantity and Ernest and A.B. Frost (1851–1928). plary works with great form, was a dealer, O’Brien was a The collection also houses surface and impeccable prov- connoisseur. As a carver him- some of the finest J.J. Audu- enance. In this session, a pin- self, he brought his artistic bon (1785–1851) engravings, tail drake by Charles H. eye to his pursuit, and his including the “Virginian Par- Perdew (1874–1963) and a influence shaped decoy col- tridge” and “Canvas-backed After John James Audubon (1785–1851), “Virginian Par- plover by Charles Sumner lecting as it is known today. Duck,” among others. tridge,” hand colored etching with aquatint and engraving, Bunn (1865–1952) or William O’Brien’s connoisseurship Highlighting the fine art in sheet size 25-5/8 by 38¼ inches ($10/20,000). “Bill” Bowman are set to lead led him to collect the very best the collection is Pleissner’s the way. carvings by individual makers “The Run Downstream,” a Fine art highlights include that are also considered pin- prized oil by the noted sport- fresh-to-market works by dog nacle decoys by region. The ing artist. Along with “Blue painters Percival Rosseau John English (1852–1915) Boat on the St Anne,” an (1859–1937), Gustav Muss- pintail drake is the only atmospheric oil painting in Arnolt (1858–1927) and example known in original the collection of the Shel- Edmund Osthaus (1858– paint, and Delaware River burne Museum in Vermont, 1928), and classic sporting decoy authority Bob White “The Run Downstream” is scenes by Lynn Bogue Hunt calls it “the best Delaware among the artist’s most (1878–1960), Robert K. Abbett River decoy in existence.” important works. It depicts (1926–2015), Ogden Pleissner Many consider the Charles E. bright, bold figures on a sunny (1905–1983), Aiden Lassell “Shang” Wheeler (1872–1949) day, successfully hooked up to Ripley (1896–1969), Chet Canada goose to be not only a large salmon. O’Brien was Reneson (b 1934) and Brett the most famous decoy by good friends with Pleissner, Smith (b 1958), among many Wheeler, but also one of the who would stop and see others. most important Connecticut O’Brien on his way to New The Donal C. O’Brien Jr col- decoys known to exist. York galleries, giving the col- lection, built and curated over Of the five top decoys head- lector the opportunity to six decades by one of Ameri- lining the sale, three have acquire some of the artist’s ca’s great conservationists, is never before been available at best works before they hit the considered by many to be the auction, while the other two broader market. finest American sporting art have not crossed the block in Hotel 1620 is at 180 Water and bird decoy collection ever more than 40 years. Street. For further informa- Pintail drake by John English (1852–1915), circa 1875 assembled. It totals well more The ruddy duck by Lee Dud- tion, www.copleyart.com or ($80/120,000). than 500 objects and consti- ley (1860–1942) of North Car- 617-536-0030. Arthur Singer’s Birds To Fly In Book And RIT Exhibit ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The University Gallery at the developed paintings in his bird guides that show the 1930s, he befriended jazz greats including Duke Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) presents environment where birds are often seen.” Ellington and Cab Calloway, earning early commer- “Arthur Singer: the Wildlife Art of an American Mas- Born in New York City in 1917, Singer began illus- cial success drawing caricatures of the artists that ter,” on view August 7–October 28, a retrospective of trating wildlife as a young teenager after admiring would be published in local newspapers and jazz the artist’s works created between 1935 and 1988, the work of John James Audubon and taking family magazines across the country. After receiving an art and coinciding with the RIT Press publication of the trips to the Bronx Zoo and the American Museum of degree from the Cooper Union, Singer joined the book authored by Paul and Alan Singer, sons of the Natural History. Singer loved jazz music and in the army following the US entry into World War II. artist. When a general noticed Singer’s considerable talent The exhibition includes more than 50 works, empha- painting a watercolor, Singer was transferred to the sizing Singer’s wildlife art and including oil paintings top-secret Company C of the 603rd Camouflage Engi- on canvas, gouache and watercolor paintings on paper neers, where he spent three years creating camou- and board. Singer received the Augustus Saint-Gaud- flage and other forms of visual deception to mislead ens Medal from the Cooper Union in 1962 after his German intelligence. The story of this group of art- bird paintings appeared in the book Birds of the ists, dubbed “The Ghost Army,” was chronicled in a World and the Hal Borland Award from the National 2014 PBS documentary by the same name. Audubon Society in 1985. Singer (1917–1990) is per- Following the war’s conclusion and a brief stint in haps best known for his paintings of state birds, the advertising industry, Singer found his calling as a which were seen by millions when the US Postal Ser- full-time illustrator and artist depicting wildlife, vice issued the State Birds & Flowers commemora- most notably birds. Singer produced some of his most tive stamps in 1982. popular works in the 1950s and 60s, including Birds In the new illustrated biography exploring their of the World, and his guide to Birds of North America, father’s work, Paul and Alan chronicle his journey which is still in print after selling millions of copies. from a top-secret World War II unit to his work as a The Singer brothers worked on the book for more renowned bird artist who redefined the concept of the than two years to commemorate the 25th anniversary bird guide with his 1966 release, The Golden Field of their father’s passing, poring over letters, never- Guide to Birds of North America. Millions have seen before-seen illustrations and other mementos from the Singer’s work published in books, magazines, prints artist’s personal collection. “This is first time the pub- and commemorative stamps. lic will be able to get a cross section of my father’s life The biography, which shares its title with the exhi- work from his childhood to his last years,” said Alan bition, is illustrated profusely with color images. It is Singer. published by RIT Press, the scholarly publishing Paul and Alan Singer’s new book, Arthur Singer: Arthur Singer: the Wildlife Art of an American Master enterprise at Rochester Institute of Technology. the Wildlife Art of an American Master, examines is available to order in hardcover for $60 at the RIT “For years, my father had been in the field drawing the life and work of their father, renowned wild- Press website www.rit.edu/press or by calling RIT and photographing birds, and knowing their behav- life artist Arthur Singer. The cover shows Arthur Press at 585-475-6766. ior; he felt they should be shown naturalistically,” Singer’s “Hummingbirds,” 1961, gouache on For exhibition information, www.rit.edu/fa/gallery or said Alan Singer. “He added light and shadow and board, 8 by 13 inches, collection of Alan Singer. 585-475-2866.