Note
1) The following Mattson biographical materials are taken from the Askart.com
website:
“ Henry Ellis
Mattson (1887-1971)
A native of
Gothenburg, Sweden, Henry Mattson immigrated to Boston in 1905, then settled in
Worcester, Massachusetts, drawn by its large Scandinavian population. Studying
at the Worcester School of Art evenings, Mattson worked at a factory job during
the day.
After an
unsuccessful bid to enter the Valand School of Art in Gothenburg, he settled in
Chicago in 1915, then studied with John F. Carlson at Woodstock where he
settled permanently.
Although primarily
self-trained, Mattson’s work was carried by the Frank M. Rehn Gallery in New
York and he was elected a member of the National Academy of Design. Mattson
entered paintings successfully in Corcoran Biennials and Whitney Museum of
American Art annual exhibitions.
Submitted by Edward P. Bentley, Art Researcher, East Lansing, Michigan
Source: Swanson, Mary Towley. Tangled Web: Swedish Immigrant Artists’
Patronage Systems, 1880-1940. 2004”
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Note
2) The foregoing biographical considerations, including the fact that Mattson
was elected as a member of the National Academy of Design, a very prestigious artistic
honor; the fact that this painting is a well-executed
Impressionist view, “In The Harbor—Rockport, Mass.,” depicted on a sunny day
under a bright sky, is an interesting composition, which manifests a wide
variety of beautiful, bright pastel colors; is otherwise esthetically
appealing; in good condition; and has its original frame and the nature of
following auction records regarding Mattson sales warrant the conclusion that
the presale estimate of $3,000-$10,000 is reasonable and justifiable. In this
regard, the 4 recorded Mattson auction sales all involve nighttime water
views and are painted almost exclusively in various shades of blue, so that
the paintings are almost monochromatic, which Mr. Fastov finds rather boring
and not very esthetically appealing. Nighttime views of this nature do not,
as a general rule, bring prices that come close to the prices that are
obtained for sunny, bright, multi-hued pastel Impressionist paintings, such
as this auction's harbor view of Rockport, Massachusetts. This auction
painting was almost certainly executed earlier in Mattson's career, c. 1930,
than these 4 nighttime views, which appear to be Mattson's favorite subject
of his later career. Moreover, the titles and subject matters of none of
these 4 auction sales paintings have the cachet and economic value as the
site and subject matter of this auction painting, which is the harbor of
Rockport, Massachusetts, home of one of the most important artistic colonies
in America at the time this painting was executed and remains so today. 3 of
these 4 auction nighttime water view paintings are smaller than this Rockport
painting, and 2 of them, one measuring 25.25 in. x 40.25 in. and the other
measuring 11 in. x 13 in., both brought $2,640 on 6/4/2009 and 3/2/2006,
respectively. The 3rd painting of this group of 3, which measured
25 in. x 21.10 in., brought $1,560 on 10/07/2003. Another large Mattson
painting, which also appears to be a night time water view painting (photo
illustration is in black and white) brought $4,180 on 11/20/1990. Thus,
there is clear support for the low presale estimate of $3,000, and the $10,000
high estimate is attributable to the various factors arising from the fact
that Mattson is a National Academy member; this very large auction painting
is a scene set in the harbor of Rockport, Massachusetts, as it existed
approximately 80 years ago, and is a well-executed Impressionist view of a
harbor on a sunny day under a bright sky, which has a wide variety of
beautiful, bright pastel colors; and is otherwise esthetically appealing; is
in good condition; and is framed in its original frame.
Title/Subject:
Sailboat in the Moonlight Signed. Oil on canvas. 35.25 in. x 46 in. sold for
$2,629 on 11/10/2010 at Heritage Auctions, Dallas, TX
Title/Subject: Seascape Signed.
Oil on canvas. 25.25 in. x 40.25 in. sold for $2,640 on 06/04/2009 at Swann
Galleries, NYC
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