Pasadena, CA – On June 24th John Moran Auctioneers hosted the second of their tri-annual California and American Paintings sales for 2008. The sale set six new world auction records and strong prices were realized across the board –very successful results in light of current economic conditions and the summer season.

The sale started off with “Arcadian Hills” by Hanson Puthuff (1875 – 1972) realizing $10,575 against its high estimate of $7,000. Shortly afterwards a charming small work depicting figures on a beach by Jane Peterson (1876 – 1965) sold for double its high estimate, for $32,312.

“Summertime” by Joe Duncan Gleason (1881-1959) was another appealing work that performed well. The playful, brightly colored scene of two boys swimming sold for $41,125 against a high estimate of $35,000, continuing Moran’s string of impressive prices for the artist. Moran’s holds the current record auction price for Gleason. The following lot, a lovely coastal titled “Low Tide - Point Lobos” by William Posey Silva, also sold nicely over the high estimate, at $10,575.

A typically lush, gold-leaf accented depiction of birds surrounded with exotic foliage by Jessie Arms Botke (1883-1971), “Herons in Flight”, brought $52,875 against its high estimate of $40,000. A more typically Californian landscape with sycamores, painted in oil by William Wendt (1865-1946), sold well for $99,875.

The first record of the evening was set with “San Francisco Impressions,” a watercolor by California artist James March Phillips (1913-1981). It was estimated to bring $3-5k, but a bidding war brought the final price to $13,800, surpassing by several thousand dollars the previous record price for this artist, also set by John Moran.

New records were also set for California artists Lois Green Cohen, Herbert Chester Cressey and Darwin Duncan, and Texas artist Ella K. Mewhinney. A work by Carlos Vierra (1876-1937), who is considered the founder of the Art Colony in Santa Fe, New Mexico, set the final new record of the evening. His “Santa Fe, NM” was expected to earn $10-15K but realized $21,800.

Other impressive results were the $49,937 achieved by Thomas L. Hunt’s oil of houses in a winter landscape, and the $35,250 brought by a still life, “Madonna, No. 34”, by Armenian-American artist Hovsep Pushman (1877-1966).

John Moran Auctioneers also hosts monthly Fine Antiques and Estates Auctions. The next sale is scheduled for July 22, 2008. Highlighting this sale will be an important work by German/American artist Lyonel Feininger (1871-1956) entitled “Die Teufelssonate”, estimated at $20,000 – 30,000.