A Slice Of The Big Apple

Just like New York City itself, there are so many things to see in this fabulous painting, entitled "Lower Manhattan." The energy and vitality of the city are evident at every perspective presented in this work. This gouache on paper was painted in 1941 by artist Ben Benn.

Ben Benn (1884 - 1983) was born Benjamin Rosenberg in what is now southwest Ukraine. He moved at an early age with his family to the United States to escape religious persecution. He attended the National Academy of Design and would go on to participate in the Forum Exhibition of 1916 and the first annual exhibition of the Society of Independent Artists in 1917. His first solo show was held at J.B. Newmann’s New Art Circle gallery in 1925. His painting style varied over time and included cubism and abstract expressionism. Benn's works are featured in many fine institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Whitney, Hirshhorn Museum, and the Kreuller Collection in the Hague.

City Slickers

Hartford, CT is nicknamed the "Insurance Capital of the World" because of the large number of companies in that industry calling the city their headquarters. Founded in 1635, it is also one of our country's oldest cities. You can really feel the heartbeat of the city in this early-20th century painting entitled Main Street, Hartford, CT.  This work is by artist Ernest Meyer and is another featured highlight from the Pantages Portfolio.

Ernest Meyer (1863-1952) was born in Germany but moved to America as a young man. He would go on to call New York City home for most of his life. He studied under several well known American artists including William Merritt Chase, John Henry Twachtman, James Carroll Beckwith, Frank Vincent DuMond, and Charles Henry Turner. Meyer is best known for his landscape paintings. His professional associations included the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts and the Salmagundi Club, and he exhibited his paintings at venues including the National Academy of Design, the Brooklyn Art Association, and the Boston Art Club.

Color Me Beautiful

Doesn't this fantastic painting from the Pantages Portfolio make you want to troop the colors? You can't help but feel festive and energized by this wonderfully hued work by abstract expressionist Max Schnitzler. It features a small cabin amongst an explosion of flowers and plants in full bloom, against a grey blue sky.

Max Schnitzler (1903-1999) was born in Eastern Europe and came to America in 1920 to escape the after effects of World War I. He was interested in drawing since childhood. He decided to become an artist after visiting a museum on Fifth Avenue in NYC. His parents were not supportive of his dream. He became a struggling artist, working several jobs to make ends meet. He got his big break in 1927 and scored a fellowship to attend the Art Academy in Paris. There he studied with Fernand Léger, André Lhote and Amédée Ozenfant. He would go on to have exhibits at the Zborowski Gallery in Paris, the MoMA in New York, and the Whitney Museum of American Art, among others. 

Right Brain Frenzy

"So people have been asking, "What is happening behind the scenes with this collection?" Judy has been working around the clock studying, researching, measuring, photographing, cataloging and entering each example into our inventory system. It's a labor of love, and passion, at the same time.

Here is a sampling of what Judy has been working on the last few days. These three pictures here truly represent the eclectic nature of the collection. Every time I walk into Judy's office, I see images for the first time. This is really exciting, and I find myself eager and delighted each time I find myself in her work space.

Every picture is handled with TLC as it is prepped for the sale. Good thing Judy loves rolling around in art, though by days end she has a real right brain high going on. We are being extremely careful with authentication and have discovered some fakes as well as some very positive surprises. We are so very lucky to have Judy and her rare set of talents working so diligently for this collection." - Peter Smith