The
following description has been prepared entirely by the current owner, Roberts
S. Fastov, Esq., and, at the collector’s request, has not been edited by Sloans
& Kenyon
Note 1) The following biographical
materials are taken from the Paul Bradley Smith website:
"Helen was born in Reading PA in 1895 and lived the
majority of her life in Albuquerque New Mexico. She is known for many of her
excellent landscape scenes from many places she traveled. She graduated from
Philadelphia School of Design for Women in 1923 and studied abroad with a group
in Florence Italy.
After her graduation Paul Ancona followed her on her travels
to Europe and after patiently waiting for their license from the Archbishop of
Canterbury they were married in St. George’s Hanover
Square in London.
She continued her studies in art at the University of New
Mexico from 1941-44 with Raymond Jonson, Kenneth
Adams and Randall
Davey.
Other artists Helen knew and studied with included; Kenneth Nack, George Bridgeman and Henry
Snell, Leopold Seyffert and Lucile
Howard.
Her work is exceptional, unique and a treasure for your
eyes."
Note
2) The foregoing biographical information; the fact that this painting is a
well-executed Impressionist landscape; is an interesting composition, which has
beautiful pastel coloring; is esthetically appealing; in good condition; and
attractively framed and the following auction records regarding Pearce sales
warrant the conclusion that the presale estimate of $400-$800 is reasonable and
justifiable. The highest auction price ever paid for a Pearce painting was
$1,469 on 09/07/2007, which was one of the two Pearce paintings which have been
offered for sale. As noted above, Pearce inscribed a price of $435 c. 1950, on
the verso of the painting. Obviously, given inflation over the past 60 years,
Pearce would have priced this painting for an amount of money that significantly
exceeded the $435, if she were to price it in 2013.
Title/Subject:
Bay Of Naples NO. 3 Signed. Casein on board. 15.50 in. x 19.50 in. sold for
$400 on 12/06/2008 at Susanin's Auctions, Chicago, IL
Title/Subject:
New York City-Looking N.W., from Earle Hotel, Greenwich Village, 1981 Signed.
Oil on canvas board. 24 in. x 18 in. sold for $1,469 on 09/07/2007 at Skinner,
Inc., Marlborough, MA