William A. Harper Paintings & Artwork for Sale | William A. Harper Art Value Price Guide

Dec. 02, 2023
William A. Harper, 1873-1910, Mexico (untitled)
Est: $20,000 - $30,000
William A. Harper 1873-1910 Mexico (untitled) 1909 oil on canvas laid down on board 14 x 20 inches signed and dated ornate gold frame (appears to be original) Provenance: private collection, northern Ohio According to Janet Nussbaum, a Harper scholar, "Looking at the exhibitions for 1909 and 1910, there are a number of paintings set in Mexico that could easily be the one (found here). The painting is reminiscent of one called Three Mexican Women from the posthumous exhibition in two regards. First, the womenâs clothing is almost identical. With the above in mind, I do not think that it would be out of order to state that the painting is âpossibly from the exhibition of Harperâs paintings held at the Art Institute of Chicago following his death in 1910.â
Black Art Auction
Oct. 19, 2023
WILLIAM A. HARPER (1873 - 1910) Untitled (French Landscape with Trees).
Est: $4,000 - $6,000
WILLIAM A. HARPER (1873 - 1910) Untitled (French Landscape with Trees). Oil on wood panel, circa 1907-08. 184x286 mm; 7 1/4x11 1/4 inches. Signed in oil, lower left. Provenance: private collection, New York. William A. Harper likely painted this beautiful landscape on his second trip to Paris when he studied with Henry Ossawa Tanner. Works from this period revealed the influence on his art of the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. Like Bannister and Needham, Harper was also born in Canada. His family moved from Cayuga to Illinois in 1885, and Harper attended the Art Institute of Chicago from 1895-1901, working as a night watchman and janitor to pay for his tuition. He studied in Paris first from 1903-1905 at the Académie Julian. In 1905, the talented Harper earned the Municipal Art League's blue ribbon at the Art Institute of Chicago for nine of his paintings. Harper's career was cut short when he died of tuberculosis only a few years later at the age of 36. The Art Institute held a memorial exhibition in Harper's honor, showcasing 60 of his works. His paintings are found today in the collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tuskegee University and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, DC. Barnwell p. 157; Kennedy p. 119.
Swann Auction Galleries
Oct. 06, 2022
WILLIAM A. HARPER (1873 - 1910) Untitled (French Landscape).
Est: $6,000 - $9,000
WILLIAM A. HARPER (1873 - 1910) Untitled (French Landscape). Oil on canvas, mounted on board, circa 1907-08. 330x406 mm; 13x16 inches. Signed in oil, lower right. Provenance: the Decatur Art Center; Millikan University, Decatur (1969); private collection, Illinois (2020). William A. Harper painted this beautiful, pastoral landscape on the outskirts of Paris during his second French trip. Like fellow landscape painters Edward M. Bannister and James Bolivar Needham, Harper was born in Canada; his family moved from Ontario to Illinois in 1885. Harper attended the Art Institute of Chicago from 1895 - 1901, working as a nightwatch man and janitor to pay for his tuition. Graduating with honors, he then studied in Paris from 1903 - 1905 at the Académie Julian following in Henry Ossawa Tanner's footsteps, and was greatly influenced by the Barbizon School. In 1905, Harper earned the Municipal Art League's blue ribbon at the Art Institute of Chicago for nine of his paintings. On a return trip to France from 1907-08, Harper studied informally with Tanner and his paintings became more Impressionist. Harper's career was cut short when he died of tuberculosis only a few years later at the age of 36. The Art Institute held a memorial exhibition in Harper's honor, showcasing 60 of his works. Today, his paintings are in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery (The Evans-Tibbs Collection), the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution, the Columbus Museum of Art, the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, the Flint Institute of Fine Arts, Tuskegee University, the Harmon and Harriet Kelley Foundation for the Arts and the Walter O. Evans Collection of African American Art. Barnwell p. 157; Kennedy p. 119.
Swann Auction Galleries
Mar. 31, 2022
WILLIAM A. HARPER (1873 - 1910) Untitled (Landscape with House on Horizon).
Est: $6,000 - $9,000
WILLIAM A. HARPER (1873 - 1910) Untitled (Landscape with House on Horizon). Oil on canvas mounted to thick cardstock, circa 1907. 320x396 mm; 12 7/8x15 5/8 inches. Signed in oil, lower left. Provenance: estate of the artist; private collection, Decatur, IL (circa 1922), thence by descent, private collection, Virginia. The owner's great grandmother acquired this painting from the Harper family in Decatur. A number of oil paintings by William A. Harper were exhibited at the Decatur Art Institute in January of 1922.
Swann Auction Galleries
Mar. 31, 2022
WILLIAM A. HARPER (1873 - 1910) Untitled (Farm House).
Est: $3,000 - $5,000
WILLIAM A. HARPER (1873 - 1910) Untitled (Farm House). Oil on thin wood panel, circa 1903-05. 117x193 mm; 4 5/8x7 5/8 inches. Signed in oil, lower right. Provenance: estate of the artist; private collection, Decatur, IL (circa 1922), thence by descent, private collection, Virginia. The owner's great grandmother acquired this painting from the Harper family in Decatur. A number of oil paintings by William A. Harper were exhibited at the Decatur Art Institute in January of 1922. The painting is numbered 19 in pencil on the verso and has a number 19 label on the frame back.
Swann Auction Galleries
Oct. 07, 2021
WILLIAM A. HARPER (1873 - 1910) Untitled (Landscape).
Est: $5,000 - $7,000
WILLIAM A. HARPER (1873 - 1910) Untitled (Landscape). Oil on thick cardstock, circa 1907. 324x387 mm; 12 3/4x15 1/4 inches. Signed in oil, lower right. Provenance: estate of the artist; private collection, Decatur, IL (circa 1922), thence by descent, private collection, VA. The owner's great grandmother acquired this painting from the Harper family in Decatur. A number of oil paintings by William A. Harper were exhibited at the Decatur Art Institute in January of 1922. William A. Harper likely painted this beautiful landscape on his second trip to Paris when he studied with Henry Ossawa Tanner. Like landscape painters Edward M. Bannister and James Bolivar Needham, William Harper was also born in Canada. His family moved from Cayuga to Illinois in 1885, and Harper attended the Art Institute of Chicago from 1895-1901, working as a night watchman and janitor to pay for his tuition. He studied in Paris first from 1903-1905 at the Académie Julian like Tanner. In 1905, the talented Harper earned the Municipal Art League's blue ribbon at the Art Institute of Chicago for nine of his paintings. Harper's career was cut short when he died of tuberculosis only a few years later at the age of 36. The Art Institute held a memorial exhibition in Harper's honor, showcasing 60 of his works. His paintings are found today in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery, the Smithsonian American National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Tuskegee University and Dr. Walter O. Evans. Thank you to Janet Nussbaum for her assistance with this painting with her extensive research of William A. Harper and the provenance of his paintings. Barnwell p. 157; Kennedy p. 119.
Swann Auction Galleries
Feb. 13, 2014
WILLIAM A. HARPER (1873 - 1910) Untitled (French Pasture with Trees).
Est: $7,000 - $10,000
WILLIAM A. HARPER (1873 - 1910) Untitled (French Pasture with Trees). Oil on thick cardstock, circa 1907-08. 305x394 mm; 12x15 1/2 inches. Signed in oil, lower left. Provenance: private collection, Chicago. William A. Harper likely painted this beautiful landscape on his second trip to Paris when he studied with Henry Ossawa Tanner. Like Bannister and Needham, William Harper was also born in Canada. His family moved from Cayuga to Illinois in 1885, and Harper attended the Art Institute of Chicago from 1895-1901, working as a night watchman and janitor to pay for his tuition. He studied in Paris first from 1903-1905 at the Académie Julian. In 1905, the talented Harper earned the Municipal Art League's blue ribbon at the Art Institute of Chicago for nine of his paintings. Harper's career was cut short when he died of tuberculosis only a few years later at the age of 36. The Art Institute held a memorial exhibition in Harper's honor, showcasing 60 of his works. His paintings are found today in the collections of Tuskegee University and Dr. Walter O. Evans. Barnwell p. 157; Kennedy p. 119.
Swann Auction Galleries
Aug. 21, 2012
WILLIAM HARPER (American 1873-1910) SUMMER BREEZE.
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
Oil on canvas tropical scene shows sailboats on turquoise water with houses on shore under lush palm trees. Nice heavy impasto use. Signed lower left. Housed in a gold molded wood period frame. SIZE: 16-1/4" x 18". CONDITION: Very good, some inpainting. 9-26054
James D. Julia
Nov. 29, 2011
William A. Harper (American, 1873-1910) Late Summer Landscape 8 3/4 x 13 1/2in
Est: $3,000 - $5,000
Late Summer Landscape signed 'W.A.Harper' (lower left) oil on panel 8 3/4 x 13 1/2in
Bonhams
Nov. 29, 2011
William A. Harper (American, 1873-1910) Late Summer Landscape 8 3/4 x 13 1/2in
Est: £3,000 - £5,000
Late Summer Landscape signed 'W.A.Harper' (lower left) oil on panel 8 3/4 x 13 1/2in
Bonhams
Oct. 06, 2011
WILLIAM A. HARPER (1873 - 1910) Two small landscapes.
Est: $4,000 - $6,000
WILLIAM A. HARPER (1873 - 1910) Two small landscapes. Untitled (Farm with Large Trees), oil on board. 150x200 mm; 5 7/8x7 7/8inches. Signed in oil, lower left. * Untitled (Road to a Village), oil on panel (back of a cigar box). 122x190 mm; 4 5/8x7 1/2 inches. Provenance: private collection, Illinois. William Harper was born in Cayuga, Canada. His family moved to Illinois in 1885, and Harper attended the Art Institute of Chicago from 1895-1901, working as a nightwatch man and janitor to pay for his tuition. He studied in Paris from 1903-1905 at the Académie Julian. In 1905, Harper earned the Municipal Art League's blue ribbon at the Art Institute of Chicago for nine of his paintings. On a return trip to France from 1907-08, Harper studied with Henry Ossawa Tanner. Harper's career was cut short when he died of tuberculosis only a few years later at the age of 36. The Art Institute held a memorial exhibition in Harper's honor, showcasing 60 of his works. His paintings are found today in the collections of Tuskegee University and Dr. Walter O. Evans. Barnwell p. 157; Kennedy p. 119.
Swann Auction Galleries
Oct. 07, 2010
WILLIAM A. HARPER (1873 - 1910) Untitled (French Landscape).
Est: $6,000 - $9,000
WILLIAM A. HARPER (1873 - 1910) Untitled (French Landscape). Oil on canvas, 1905. 413x514 mm; 16 1/4x20 1/4 inches. Signed and dated in oil, lower right. Provenance: Treadway Gallery, Chicago, purchased in the 1980s; private collection. William Harper was born in Cayuga, Canada. His family moved to Illinois in 1885, and Harper attended the Art Institute of Chicago from 1895-1901, working as a nightwatch man and janitor to pay for his tuition. He studied in Paris from 1903-1905 at the Académie Julian. In 1905, Harper earned the Municipal Art League's blue ribbon at the Art Institute of Chicago for nine of his paintings. On a return trip to France from 1907-08, Harper studied with Henry Ossawa Tanner. Harper's career was cut short when he died of tuberculosis only a few years later at the age of 36. The Art Institute held a memorial exhibition in Harper's honor, showcasing 60 of his works. This is only the third landscape of his to come to auction. His paintings are found today in the collections of Tuskegee University and Dr. Walter O. Evans. Barnwell p. 157; Kenndey p. 119.
Swann Auction Galleries
Jan. 31, 2008
WILLIAM A. HARPER (American 1873-1910) SUMMER
Est: $6,000 - $8,000
WILLIAM A. HARPER (American, 1873-1910) SUMMER BREEZE.Oil on canvas tropical scene shows several sailboats on turquoise water with buildings in the foreground and buildings at the base of a hill with red roofs. Two large palm trees on right side. Lower left signed "W.H.". Heavy impasto work in bright colors. A wonderful impressionistic southern scene. Housed in a wide gilt molded wood frame. SIZE: 16" x 18". CONDITION: Very good, some inpainting. 9-92062
James D. Julia
Aug. 28, 2007
WILLIAM A. HARPER (American 1873-1910) NEGRO
Est: $6,000 - $8,000
WILLIAM A. HARPER (American, 1873-1910) NEGRO ISLAND, MAINE. Oil on canvas scene shows a ocean inlet with rock and grass banks lined with trees. This is said to be a scene of Negro Island, Maine. This location is located off the peninsula south of East Boothbay, Maine. Harper was the first African-American artist to achieve significant critical success at the Art Institute of Chicago's annual juried exhibition. SIZE: 16" x 20". CONDITION: Surface dirt, with some craquelure. Generally very good. One small puncture in left margin. 9-90242 LG
James D. Julia
Feb. 25, 2007
***HARPER, WILLIAM A.
Est: $500 - $700
***HARPER, WILLIAM A. (1873-1910 American) ''Smiling Hillside'', framed oil on canvas mounted to board, approximate image 12'' x 16'', frame 15 1/2'' x 19 1/2'', signed indistinctly lower left. CONDITION: Areas of yellowed varnished and surface grime, minor paint cracklure through bottom right 1/4 of the painting, no apparent paint loss or restoration.
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