Classic Western Art Rules The Day

The Coeur d’Alene Art Auction in Reno, Nevada, realized over $17 million.

- John Langellier

I feel fortunate for my career in museums and history. Occasionally, however, I find myself wishing I had worked in a more lucrative field. The July 27, 2019, Coeur d’Alene Art Auction is a case in point. Paintings by some of my favorite artists came on the block.

Their work was viewed and purchased by an overflow audience of nearly 650 packed in at Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. Described as “the single largest event in the field of Classic Western and American Art,” the auction sold upwards of 92 percent of the 361 lots. The total with buyer premiums cleared the staggering hurdle of $17 million, with some pieces reaching world records.