John Moran Auctioneers is pleased to offer 200 works by important California and American artists at their February 17, 2009 Auction. The sale will feature one of the strongest selections of artworks in the company’s 40-year history, including works by pre-eminent California artist Guy Rose and the renowned American painter/illustrator Maxfield Parrish.

The Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966 Cornish, NH) is an exceptional art-buying opportunity. The oil-on-board is one of twenty-six illustrations Parrish created for Louise Sanders’ book “The Knave of Hearts,” published by Scribner’s in 1925, and arguably the artist’s most abundantly and beautifully illustrated book. The painting depicts a youth speaking to a frog and is highly characteristic of Parrish’s popular style, with his trademark use of saturated color and elegant design. Estimated to sell between $125,000 - 175,000, it was for many years in the collection of Susan Lewin, the artist's longtime companion and frequent model.

A gem-like portrait of a seated woman by Guy Rose (1867-1925 Pasadena, CA), simply titled “Nude”, exemplifies Rose's singular ability to contrast a painterly human form against the bold and colorful patterning of a kimono. The exquisite, signed painting comes to auction from a private collection and is expected to sell between $80,000 - 100,000. Moran holds the second-highest auction record for Guy Rose, achieved in 2001 with the sale of his “Early Morning Summertime” for just over $1.2 million.

Among the Western art selections, an important work by Western painter Carl Moon (1879-1948 San Francisco, CA) depicts an Indian Chief on horseback in elaborate headdress and clothing. The oil on canvas is offered with an estimate of $7000 – 9000.

A quintessential snowy New York City scene by Guy Wiggins (1883-1962 New York, NY) is estimated to sell between $30,000 - 50,000. Titled “5th Avenue Storm,” the oil depicts a view of 5th Avenue looking north with the iconic marble lions on the steps of the New York Public Library and the flag of New York City flying above them.

John Moran Auctioneers’ California and American Fine Art Sale will begin at 6:30pm on Tuesday, February 17, 2009, at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, CA. Previewing will begin at 12 noon. Bidding for this sale is available from the floor, by phone and absentee as well as online via LiveAuctioneers.com. A fully illustrated catalog of this sale is available on the website at www.johnmoran.com.

For more information on this important sale, please call the offices of John Moran Auctioneers at (626) 793-1833 or visit their website at www.johnmoran.com.  You can also click here to see the entire catalogue for the February 17, 2009 California and American art auction.

Featured works for the John Moran Auctioneers California and American Fine Art Sale on February 17, 2009.

Eucalyptus Landscape by Marion Kavanagh Wachtel (1870-1954 Pasadena, CA) 29.5" x 21.50", Oil on canvas Est.: $30,000/40,000

Nude by Guy Rose (1867-1925 Pasadena, CA) 14" x 10.75", Oil on canvasboard Est.: $80,000/100,000

Figure reading to children in a Buddhist setting. by Albert Herter N.A. (1871-1950 Long Island, NY/ Santa Barbara, CA) 7.25" x 18.75", Watercolor and gouache on paper laid to board under glass. Est.: $2,000/3,000