AUGUST HERMAN OLSON ROLLE (Minnesota/ Washington, D.C., 1875-1941). WHARF, LEONARDTOWN, MARYLAND, signed lower left and titled on verso, circa 1925-1935. Oil on canvas
See Mr. Fastov's extended supplementary text here, which he had originally intended to be used solely as a prefatory essay for all of the Rolle works of art, that he prepared, without assistance/supervision/ editing/proofing from Sloans & Kenyon, specifically for this auction of a very large collection and smorgasbord of a wide variety of beautiful Impressionist landscapes by August Herman Olson Rolle (`Washington, D.C. 1875-1941). Such essay contains detailed Rolle biographical information and an extensive analysis of why Rolle is properly regarded as the leading Washington, DC Impressionist landscape painter of the early 20th century. This is predicated initially on the fact that Rolle and Benson Bond Moore were the only 2 D.C. Impressionist artists and 2 of only 12 Southern Impressionists selected by Professor William Gerdts, for inclusion in his very popular, scholarly, well-written, trailblazing book American Impressionism, published in 1984, which is still in print and selling well, and Rolle's unsurpassed Impressionist brushwork and freely imaginative coloring; diverse landscape subjects and compositions; his impeccable and highly sensitive depictions of the impact of light, shadow and weather of the 4 seasons on different kinds of water, land, buildings, trees, etc.; and other artistic components of his style, that he produced continuously throughout his life in the Impressionist style from c. 1905-1941 in the Potomac River Valley, the Washington, D.C. area and other locales. Mr. Fastov also discusses the high respect in which he was held by D.C. art community, as evidenced by his election and long time service as President of 2 of the 3 leading D.C. art organizations of the early 20th century, The Landscape Club of Washington, D.C. (1919-1932, except 1925) and the Washington Watercolor Club (1930-1937). Finally, Mr. Fastov discusses the economic value of Rolle's art. - Framed, 30 in. x 36 in. Estimate $50,000-75,000
PROVENANCE: Purchased directly from the artist's estate represented by Colonel August Goodyear (Rolle's son- in -law) in the 1970 .
Illustration: Front cover color illustration on Mr. Fastov's Catalogue for an exhibition entitled "An Early Impressionist's View Of Southern Maryland: The Seascapes And Waterviews Of August H.O. Rolle." Calvert Marine Museum, Solomon's Maryland, June 20-October 20, 1992.
Full page color illustration in Volume I, p. 363, as color plate 1.358, in Professor William Gerdts' comprehensive three-volume Art Across America: Two Centuries of Regional Painting (1990)."
Note 1) Colonel Goodyear told Mr. Fastov that this painting was one of Rolle's favorite paintings toward the end of his life, and Rolle hung this painting in the dining room of his house at that time.
NB: In response to a previous request of the Washington Society of Landscape Painters (successor to Rolle's Landscape Club of Washington, D.C., in 1986) to Mr. Fastov that he (1) lend "Wharf, Leonardtown, Maryland," to the Society for an exhibition at the Arts Club of Washington, D.C. in its headquarters at the James Monroe house from March 30, 2013 - April 28, 2013, as part of the Centennial celebration of its birth in 1913, and (2) permit the Society to place a full color photograph of "Wharf, Leonardtown, Maryland," on the front cover of the exhibition catalogue for such Centennial celebration, and other ancillary promotional purposes. Mr. Fastov acceded to both such requests. A photograph of such painting has been already forwarded to the Society by Sloans & Kenyon, at Mr. Fastov's request. As a purchase condition, the successful bidder on "Wharf, Leonardtown, Maryland," agrees to interpose no objection or obstacle to the use of such photograph in such manners by the Society, and such successful bidder shall lend "Wharf, Leonardtown, Maryland" to the Society for such Centennial exhibition at the Arts Club of Washington, D.C. from March 30, 2013 - April 28, 2013. The Society shall cause the Arts Club of Washington, D.C. to insure for the benefit of the successful bidder "Wharf, Leonardtown, Maryland" against theft, loss, damage or destruction for the full amount of the successful bidder's total purchase price, including the hammer price, plus the buyer's premium, while the painting is in the Society's and Art Club's custody and control for the duration of such Exhibition in March/April 1913, commencing with the delivery of such painting by successful bidder to the Society and ending at the time the Society effects the return of the painting to the successful bidder, which shall occur shortly after the exhibition closes on April 28, 2013. This purchase condition, without any further action by Sloans & Kenyon, shall automatically be incorporated by reference in the Sloans & Kenyon bill of sale to such successful bidder and shall be a legally binding contract condition of such bill of sale between the successful bidder and Sloans & Kenyon. The Society shall be a third party beneficiary of this purchase condition. Sloans & Kenyon will provide the Society, at its request, with a copy of its bill of sale to the successful bidder to facilitate communications between them concerning "Wharf, Leonardtown, Maryland." The Society shall provide the successful bidder with a copy of the Centennial exhibition catalogue, and shall invite such bidder and guests of his or her choice to the opening of the exhibition. The Society made this request of Mr. Fastov in order to honor Rolle, in effect, because of the excellence of his Impressionist landscape paintings and Rolle's significant role as a founding member of the group that became the Landscape Club and long-time first President and true leader thereof in the 1920's.
