Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait Art Value Price Guide

Nov. 22, 2024
AMERICAN SCHOOL (19th Century,), Deer in a winter landscape., Oil on canvas, 14" x 10". Framed 17.5" x 13.5".
Est: $1,000 - $2,000
AMERICAN SCHOOL 19th Century Deer in a winter landscape. Bears signature of "A.F. Tait".
Eldred's
Nov. 19, 2024
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1819-1905) Stag on the Mountainside 24 1/8 x 31 3/8 in. (61.3 x 79.7 cm.) (Painted in 1876.)
Est: $40,000 - $60,000
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1819-1905) Stag on the Mountainside signed, inscribed and dated 'A F Tait / N.Y. / 1876' (lower right) and inscribed 'No A51.,' signed again, inscribed 'W. Long Lake / Hamilton Co / N.Y.' and dated again (on the reverse) oil on canvas 24 1/8 x 31 3/8 in. (61.3 x 79.7 cm.) Painted in 1876.
Bonhams
Nov. 19, 2024
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1819-1905) Herd of Deer Near a Forest Spring 20 1/4 x 32 1/4 in. (51.4 x 81.9 cm.) (Painted in 1884.)
Est: $8,000 - $12,000
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1819-1905) Herd of Deer Near a Forest Spring signed, inscribed and dated 'A.F. Tait N.A. / NY. 1884.' (lower right) oil on canvas 20 1/4 x 32 1/4 in. (51.4 x 81.9 cm.) Painted in 1884.
Bonhams
Nov. 10, 2024
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1819-1905), oil on canvas board.
Est: $15,000 - $20,000
Image measures 8" x 16". Retriever with mallard. Signed. "NA - A.F. Tait New York 82", and is listed in his catalogue raisonne. Additional signature on back wood panel.
Guyette & Deeter
Oct. 24, 2024
ARTHUR FITZWILLIAM TAIT, American 1819-1905, "The Intruder", 1872, oil on canvas, 14 x 22 in. (35.6 x 55.9 cm.), Frame: 21 1/2 x 29 1/4 x 3 in. (54.6 x 74.3 x 7.6 cm.)
Est: $8,000 - $12,000
ARTHUR FITZWILLIAM TAIT American, 1819-1905 "The Intruder", 1872 oil on canvas signed lower left "A.F. Tait / N.Y. 1872", titled, signed, dated, and inscribed on the reverse, "No 42. / 52 E. 23rd St / N.Y."
Shannon's
Sep. 14, 2024
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1819-1905), Duck Hunter in Blind, 1886
Est: $8,000 - $12,000
Title: Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1819-1905), Duck Hunter in Blind, 1886 Dimensions: 19 3/4 x 27 3/4 Framed Dimensions: 24 1/4 x 32 1/8 x 2 1/4 Signature: signed and dated lower left: A.F. Tait N.A. NY. 1886.
Jackson Hole Art Auction
Aug. 08, 2024
American School: Landscape with Elk
Est: $600 - $800
American School: Landscape with Elk attributed to Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1819-1905); oil on canvas; unsigned
Abell Auction
Jun. 22, 2024
CURRIER, THE LAST WAR-WHOOP
Est: $3,500 - $5,500
CURRIER, Nathaniel (1813-1888), after Arthur Fitzwilliam TAIT (1819-1905). The Last War-Whoop. Lithograph with original hand color. New York: Currier & Ives, 1856. 20 3/4" x 27 1/4" sheet. Gale Number: 3732. Comparables: Mid-Hudson, 2014 - $5,312.50; Neal Auction Co., 2010 - $4,182.50.
Arader Galleries
May. 26, 2024
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait "Going Out" Painting
Est: $750 - $1,500
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1819-1905) was an English-American artist known for his depictions of wildlife, hunting scenes, and rural landscapes. Born in Lively Hall, England, Tait's work often captured the beauty of the natural world and the outdoor activities of the 19th-century American frontier.Tait emigrated to the United States in the 1850s and settled in New York. His artistic foc centered on portraying the life of the American outdoorsman, reflecting the interests and pursuits of the time. He became known for his realistic and detailed representations of animals, particularly birds, as well as scenes of hunting, fishing, and pastoral life.He painted both in oil and watercolor, often presenting animals in their natural habitats. Tait's art evoked a sense of harmony between humans and nature, capturing the serenity of the wilderness and the camaraderie of outdoor activities.Tait's work resonated with the American public, and he gained prominence as one of the leading animal and genre painters of his era. His paintings were not only admired for their technical skill but also for the way they captured the spirit of the American frontier and its connection to nature.Today, Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait's art is celebrated for its historical significance, offering a glimpse into the cultural and natural landscapes of 19th-century America. His works continue to be appreciated by art enthiasts and collectors for their detailed portrayals of wildlife and outdoor pursuits. Measures 20 x 24. Sold "after" Tait. Oil on canvas.
Morgan Auctions
May. 07, 2024
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1819-1905), Adirondacks with Blue Herons, 1871
Est: $4,000 - $6,000
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1819-1905) Adirondacks with Blue Herons, 1871 Oil on canvas laid to canvas Signed, dated, and inscribed lower left: A.F. Tait
John Moran Auctioneers
Apr. 12, 2024
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (British/American 1819-1905), Two Stags Leaping Across Rocky Gorge, Pursued by a Black Bear, Oil on canvas, 29-1/4 x 25 in (74.3 x 63.5 cm)
Est: $7,000 - $9,000
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (British/American, 1819-1905) Two Stags Leaping Across a Rocky Gorge, Pursued by a Black Bear Oil on canvas Signed A. F. Tait and faintly dated l.l. Provenance: Sold in these rooms, Weschler's Auctioneers and Appraisers, Washington, DC, October 1972, lot 882 Simmons Collection
Weschler's
Apr. 12, 2024
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (British/American 1819-1905), Just Home, Oil on canvas mounted on board, 24 x 36 in. (61 x 91.4 cm.)
Est: $6,000 - $8,000
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (British/American, 1819-1905) Just Home Oil on canvas mounted on board Signed A. F. Tait NA, located New York, and dated '02 l.r.; signed, titled, dated, and located Yonkers, New York on verso
Weschler's
Mar. 27, 2024
Currier & Ives "The Trappers Defence" Print 1862
Est: $300 - $600
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (American/British, 1819-1905) for Currier and Ives, United States. Hand-colored lithograph on paper titled "Life on the Prairie: The Trappers Defence, 'Fire Fight Fire'" depicting three men racing to battle a raging prairie fire, 1862. One man calms the scared horses while the other two build a backfire. Literature: Gale Research Company, "Currier & Ives, A Catalogue Raisonne," Volume 1: A-N (Gale Research Company: Detroit, 1984). Number 3797, page 404. Provenance: Distinguished Corporate Collection, Ohio. Currier and Ives was founded by Nathaniel Currier (American, 1813-1888) in 1835 as "the Grand Central Depot for Cheap and Popular Prints," but changed its name with the addition of James Merritt Ives (American, 1824-1895) in 1857. The company created over 7000 popular lithographs depicting American life until 1907.
Revere Auctions
Mar. 27, 2024
Currier & Ives "The Buffalo Hunt" Print 1862
Est: $800 - $1,600
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (American/British, 1819-1905) for Currier and Ives, United States. Hand-colored lithograph on paper titled "Life on the Prairie: The Buffalo Hunt" depicting a frontier scene of three men on horseback hunting American bison, 1862. Literature: Gale Research Company, "Currier & Ives, A Catalogue Raisonne," Volume 1: A-N (Gale Research Company: Detroit, 1984). Number 3796, page 404. Provenance: Distinguished Corporate Collection, Ohio. Currier and Ives was founded by Nathaniel Currier (American, 1813-1888) in 1835 as "the Grand Central Depot for Cheap and Popular Prints," but changed its name with the addition of James Merritt Ives (American, 1824-1895) in 1857. The company created over 7000 popular lithographs depicting American life until 1907.
Revere Auctions
Jan. 31, 2024
(Attr) Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait O/C Portrait of Dog
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
Oil on canvas painting depicting a "Portrait of a Dog", attributed to Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (American, 1819-1905). Unsigned. Image size seen approx. 16" x 16", overall frame size approx. 21" x 21". Canvas has some restoration and areas ofin-painting, and has been re-lined.
Weiss Auctions
Dec. 02, 2023
ARTHUR FITZWILLIAM TAIT (English/American 1819-1905) A PAINTING, "A Quiet Day," CIRCA 1896
Est: $2,000 - $4,000
ARTHUR FITZWILLIAM TAIT (English/American 1819-1905) A PAINTING, "A Quiet Day," CIRCA 1896, oil on canvas laid down on board, signed L/R, "AF Tait," indistinctly titled and dated and with the artist's name on reverse; 13 1/2" x 21 1/2", framed 19 1/2" x 28".
Simpson Galleries, LLC
Aug. 22, 2023
A. F. Tait, O/C Salmon On Riverbank
Est: $50 - $5,000
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tate (Am. 1819-1905), signed verso. Frame size: 19" high, 26" wide. Small frame losses.
Schwenke Auctioneers
Aug. 08, 2023
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1819 - 1905) American
Est: $2,500 - $3,500
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1819 - 1905) Oil on Rounded Cavas, Signed, Measures ( 9 x 12 inches ) w/frame ( 15 x 18 inches ) Born in Liverpool, England, Arthur Tait became America's first important sporting artist. In England, he trained as a lithographer for Agnews, an art dealer in Manchester, and taught himself to paint by copying works at the Royal Institute. He also assisted American Indian painter George Catlin, with his traveling Indian gallery that he had brought to England, and Tait was impressed with Catlin's subject matter and skill. In 1850, Tait came to America to pursue his interest in wildlife and hunting, sports that were closed to the public in aristocratic England. He worked primarily from a studio in New York City and never got west of Chicago. Becoming a skilled woodsman and marksman, he acquired excellent first-hand knowledge that he brought to his paintings. As a result, his realistic genre hunting scenes, with their story-telling aspects, made him one of the 19th century's most popular painters.
Cutler Bay Auctions
Jul. 20, 2023
AFT. ARTHUR FITZWILLIAM TAIT (BRITISH, 1819-1905).
Est: $100 - $1,000
Chicks. Oil on canvas. Apparently unsigned. From a Pound Ridge, NY estate.
Clarke Auction Gallery
Jul. 18, 2023
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait, Oil on Board, Still Life
Est: $500 - $800
Offered is a wonderful oil on canvas painting by Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (New York/England, 1819-1905). Known for animal, game and domestic fowl and hunting scene paintings, this is an interesting painting of a still life of fruit.Signed lower left faintly in red "A.F. ???" Sight seen approx. 9-1/2" x 7-1/2", overall frame size approx. 11-1/2" x 9-1/2". Frame shows some edge and corner wear, light cracks, etc.
Weiss Auctions
Jul. 18, 2023
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait, Oil on Canvas Duck Family
Est: $2,000 - $4,000
Offered is a wonderful oil on canvas painting by Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (New York/England, 1819-1905). Great image of a "Duck Family". Signed lower right "A.F. Tait,N.Y", and dated 1870. Sight seen approx. 13-3/4" x 9-3/4", overall frame size approx. 23" x 19". Frame shows some edge and corner wear, light cracks, etc.
Weiss Auctions
Jun. 04, 2023
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (American, 1819–1905) Young Ruffed Grouse
Est: $5,000 - $8,000
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (American, 1819–1905) Young Ruffed Grouse Signed and dated 'A F Tait/N.Y. 63' on the rim of the oval center right; also pencil titled upper left corner (only visible when unframed), signed 'A F Tait' bottom left corner (only visible when unframed) and located (Co/Morrisania Westchester [sic]/NY)' bottom right corner; also numbered, titled, signed, located, and dated '245/A F Tait/Morrisania/Westchester [sic] Co N.Y./1863 verso; and with preparer's label verso, oil on board 9 3/8 x 12 1/2 in. (23.8 x 31.8cm) Qty: (1) Provenance Private Collection, Virginia.
Freeman's | Hindman
Jun. 04, 2023
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (American, 1819–1905) Good Friends
Est: $8,000 - $12,000
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (American, 1819–1905) Good Friends Signed, located, and dated 'A.F. Tait. N.A./N.Y. 92' bottom right; also titled, signed and located 'A.F. Tait. N.A./53 E 56th St/N.Y.' verso, and dated again '1892' verso, oil on canvas 20 1/4 x 30 in. (51.4 x 76.2cm) Qty: (1) Provenance Private Collection, Virginia.
Freeman's | Hindman
Apr. 15, 2023
Tait - Lot of 6 Lithographs of Rail Roads
Est: $500 - $1,000
This originally hand-colored lithograph is from Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait's Views on the Manchester and Leeds Railway. The lithographs were drawn from nature and on stone and published in Liverpool by Tait circa 1845. The images feature the landscape and scenery surrounding one of the earliest rail road lines in the United Kingdom. Arthur Tait began working as an art dealer by the age of twelve. He was a largely self-taught artist and lithographer, though he did receive some training at Royal Machester. The work he created here was sparked by the strong public interest in railroads at the time. He emigrated to the United States in 1850 and received further notoriety for his work presented by Currier & Ives, becoming one of the great American animal and sporting painters of that period. "The Manchester and Leeds Railway was first proposed in 1830 along a line surveyed by George Stephenson and James Walker. The 1831 bill was opposed by the canal company, but an act was obtained in 1836. the line was opened as far as Littleborough in 1839, and through to Leeds in 1841. The line was noted for its gentle gradients and its long sweeping curves. In 1847 the company became the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway." (Paul Hindle 'North West in Maps' in North West Geography, volume I, no. 2, 2001)
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books
Mar. 25, 2023
ARTHUR FITZWILLIAM TAIT AMERICAN 1819-1905
Est: $3,000 - $5,000
Farmyard Scene (1886), oil on canvas laid on board, , 21 x 17 in (53.3 x 43.2 cm), framed: 30 1/2 x 26 1/2 in (77.5 x 67.3 cm), signed and dated lower left (NY 1886)
Trinity International Auctions & Appraisals, LLC
Mar. 25, 2023
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait
Est: $5,000 - $7,000
(British/America, 1819-1905) Cows, 1892, signed and dated lower right "A.F. Tait, NA/NY 92", oil on canvas, 18 x 27-1/4 in.; period carved gilt wood and composition frame, 31 x 40 in. Literature: Cadbury, Warder H., Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait, and Henry F. Marsh. Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait: Artist in the Adirondacks, Cranbury, NJ: Associated University Presses, 1986, page 291, number 92.5 Provenance: Mr. Bloomingdale ( according to Cadbury)
Brunk Auctions
Mar. 21, 2023
Group of 3 Currier & Ives Prints
Est: $200 - $400
Currier and Ives, United States. Group of three lithographs including: Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (American/British, 1819-1905). "American Forest Scene: Maple Sugaring," 1856. Literature: Gale Research Company, "Currier & Ives, A Catalogue Raisonne," Volume 1: A-N (Gale Research Company: Detroit, 1984). Number 0170, page 22. "Mr. Wm. H. Vanderbilt's Celebrated Road Team, Lysander and Leander," 1879. Literature: Gale Research Company, "Currier & Ives, A Catalogue Raisonne," Volume 1: A-N (Gale Research Company: Detroit, 1984). Number 4630, page 469. Frances "Fanny" Flora Bond Palmer (American, 1812-1876). "Winter Morning," 1861. Literature: Gale Research Company, "Currier & Ives, A Catalogue Raisonne," Volume 2: O-Z (Gale Research Company: Detroit, 1984). Number 7277, page 754. Provenance: Distinguished Corporate Collection, Ohio. Currier and Ives was founded by Nathaniel Currier (American, 1813-1888) in 1835 as "the Grand Central Depot for Cheap and Popular Prints," but changed its name with the addition of James Merritt Ives (American, 1824-1895) in 1857. The company created over 7000 popular lithographs depicting American life until 1907.
Revere Auctions
Feb. 28, 2023
In the Manner of Arthur F. Tait, Spaniel with Bird
Est: $100 - $200
In the manner of Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (American, 1819-1905), 19th century oil on canvas depicting a cocker spaniel with a bird in its teeth, 10 1/4" x 14" canvas, 16" x 19" framed.
Old Kinderhook Auction Company
Feb. 07, 2023
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1819-1905) Three Sheep in a Field 12 x 18 in. framed 18 x 24 in.
Est: $4,000 - $6,000
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1819-1905) Three Sheep in a Field signed 'A.F. Tait' (lower right) oil on canvas laid to Masonite 12 x 18 in. framed 18 x 24 in.
Bonhams
Jan. 19, 2023
ARTHUR FITZWILLIAM TAIT (1819-1905) A Misty Morning oil on canvas 14 x 22 i
Est: $7,000 - $10,000
ARTHUR FITZWILLIAM TAIT (1819-1905) A Misty Morning oil on canvas 14 x 22 in. (35.6 x 55.9 cm.)
Christie's
Jan. 19, 2023
ARTHUR FITZWILLIAM TAIT (1819-1905) The Surprise oil on canvas 12 1/2 x 16
Est: $12,000 - $18,000
ARTHUR FITZWILLIAM TAIT (1819-1905) The Surprise oil on canvas 12 1/2 x 16 3/4 in.
Christie's
Jan. 19, 2023
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1819 - 1905) Oil on Panel
Est: $8,000 - $12,000
Offered is a wonderful oil on panel/wood painting by Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (New York/England, 1819 - 1905). "Good Friends", featuring a flock of sheep and a dog in the background. Signed lower right and dated "A.F. Tait, N.A., N.Y. 1902".Verso is also dated, titled, and signed by artist as well. Sight seen approx. 23-1/2" x 17-1/2", overall frame size approx. 28" x 22". Light surface abrasions, left and right center edge both have hairline cracks to the wood. Frame has someedge/corner wear as well.
Weiss Auctions
Jan. 13, 2023
Painting, Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait
Est: $6,000 - $9,000
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (American, 1819-1905), Untitled (Adirondack Autumn with Blue Herons), 1871, oil on canvas, signed and dated lower left, canvas: 30"h x 42"w, overall (with frame): 41"h x 53"w
Clars Auctions
Nov. 20, 2022
Painting, Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait
Est: $8,000 - $12,000
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (American, 1819-1905), Untitled (Adirondack Autumn with Blue Herons), 1871, oil on canvas, signed and dated lower left, canvas: 30"h x 42"w, overall (with frame): 41"h x 53"w
Clars Auctions
Nov. 18, 2022
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait - Jealousy
Est: $8,000 - $12,000
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait Jealousy $8,000 - $12,000
The Sporting Art Auction
Nov. 16, 2022
Currier & Ives "Cares of a Family" Print 1856
Est: $200 - $400
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (American/British, 1819-1905) for Currier and Ives, United States. Color lithograph titled "Cares of a Family," depicting a mother bird or quail surrounded by her chicks, 1856. Literature: Gale Research Company, "Currier & Ives, A Catalogue Raisonne," Volume 1: A-N (Gale Research Company: Detroit, 1984). Number 0907, page 93. Provenance: Distinguished Corporate Collection, Ohio. Currier and Ives was founded by Nathaniel Currier (American, 1813-1888) in 1835 as "the Grand Central Depot for Cheap and Popular Prints," but changed its name with the addition of James Merritt Ives (American, 1824-1895) in 1857. The company created over 7000 popular lithographs depicting American life until 1907.
Revere Auctions
Nov. 16, 2022
Currier & Ives "A Tight Fix" Print
Est: $3,000 - $6,000
After Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (American/British, 1819-1905) for Currier and Ives, United States. Color lithograph titled "The Life of a Hunter: 'A Tight Fix'," depicting a pair of hunters confronting an attacking bear in a snowy, wooded landscape, 1861. Literature: Gale Research Company, "Currier & Ives, A Catalogue Raisonne," Volume 1: A-N (Gale Research Company: Detroit, 1984). Number 3790, page 403. Provenance: Distinguished Corporate Collection, Ohio. Currier and Ives was founded by Nathaniel Currier (American, 1813-1888) in 1835 as "the Grand Central Depot for Cheap and Popular Prints," but changed its name with the addition of James Merritt Ives (American, 1824-1895) in 1857. The company created over 7000 popular lithographs depicting American life until 1907.
Revere Auctions
Nov. 16, 2022
Currier & Ives "Am. Field Sports On a Point" Print
Est: $200 - $400
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (American/British, 1819-1905) for Currier and Ives, United States. Color lithograph titled "American Field Sports: 'On a Point'," depicting two English Pointers indicating a family of birds hidden in the underbrush, 1857. Literature: Gale Research Company, "Currier & Ives, A Catalogue Raisonne," Volume 1: A-N (Gale Research Company: Detroit, 1984). Number 0163, page 22. Provenance: Distinguished Corporate Collection, Ohio. Currier and Ives was founded by Nathaniel Currier (American, 1813-1888) in 1835 as "the Grand Central Depot for Cheap and Popular Prints," but changed its name with the addition of James Merritt Ives (American, 1824-1895) in 1857. The company created over 7000 popular lithographs depicting American life until 1907.
Revere Auctions
Nov. 12, 2022
ARTHUR FITZWILLIAM TAIT (NY/UK, 1819-1905)
Est: $8,000 - $10,000
"Edward Bay" or "On the Island", depicting a crane fishing at water's edge, oil on canvas, signed and titled lower left, titled on label verso, housed in a replica gilt frame, OS: 27" x 23", SS: 20" x 16", very good condition.
Thomaston Place Auction Galleries
Nov. 03, 2022
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait American, 1819-1905 On the Qui Vive, Buck and Three Does, 1871
Est: $15,000 - $25,000
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait American, 1819-1905 On the Qui Vive, Buck and Three Does, 1871 Signed A F Tait and dated NY. 1871. (lr); signed A. F. Tait, dated 1871, and inscribed "On the Qui Vive"., Racquette [sic] Lake, further inscribed indistinctly, with address, and No. 19 on the reverse Oil on panel 12 1/2 x 16 inches Provenance: Mrs. J. Augustus Barnard The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1979.490.8 (Gift from the above, 1979) C
DOYLE Auctioneers & Appraisers
Oct. 16, 2022
Painting, Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait
Est: $12,000 - $18,000
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (American, 1819-1905), Untitled (Adirondack Autumn with Blue Herons), 1871, oil on canvas, signed and dated lower left, canvas: 30"h x 42"w, overall (with frame): 41"h x 53"w
Clars Auctions
Sep. 27, 2022
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (American, 1819-1905) Duck Shooting, 1857
Est: $300,000 - $500,000
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (American, 1819-1905) Duck Shooting, 1857 oil on canvas 38 x 50 inches. Property from the Estate of a Lady, Nevada Provenance: The Artist Mott & Walters, acquired from the Artist Harry T. Peters, Orange, Virginia Sold: Christie's, New York, June 4, 1982, Lot 99 The Congoleum Corporate Collection, Portsmouth, New Hampshire Sold: Christie's, New York, January 27, 1987, Lot 31 Shearson Lehman Brothers, New York, 1987-93 Richard York Gallery, New York (dated 1851) Purchased from the above by the present owner, 1993 Exhibited: New York, Berry-Hill Galleries, American Paintings VI, 1990, pp. 52-53, illus. Literature: Listed as no. 35 in Tait's register: 'Duck Shootings. 50 x 38. Mott & Walters ($200.00)' Warder H. Cadbury, Henry F. Marsh, Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait: Artist in the Adirondacks, Newark, New Jersey, 1986, p. 138, no. 57.17 F. Turner Reuter, Jr., Animal & Sporting Artists in America, Middleburg, Virginia, 2008, p. 516, illus. Lot note: One of the foremost animal and sporting scene painters of nineteenth-century America, Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait was born in Liverpool, England and trained in Manchester as a lithographer and illustrator of popular magazines. In 1850, he immigrated to New York with his young family. At this time, sporting pursuits had become commonplace for American outdoorsmen, as the popularization of hunting and fishing was advanced through publications and the extension of railroad lines. An avid sportsman himself, Tait capitalized on this growing cultural phenomenon to engage the public's enthusiasm for outdoor recreation. These factors helped him "to secure with remarkable speed his reputation as a professional painter" (The Adirondack Museum, A.F. Tait: Artist in the Adirondacks, exhibition catalogue, Blue Mountain Lake, New York, 1974, p. 9). Duck Shooting, 1857, is one of Tait's largest and most ambitious paintings. The subject matter was probably influenced by the New Jersey wetlands, which Tait began visiting at the prompting of his friend and fellow artist, William Ranney. Ranney was an influential mentor to the artist during the 1850s and accompanied Tait on hunting trips. "At the same time, Ranney and Tait conveyed in their paintings little of the grandeur of nature in the sublime sense such as it is found in the landscapes of Thomas Cole and other artists touch by romanticism. And both applied the genre formula of stressing the incidental" (W.H. Cadbury and H.F. Marsh, Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait: Artist in the Adirondacks, Newark, Delaware, 1986, p. 29). It is this emphasis on detail and interest in the narrative, rather than solely on the surrounding landscape, that distinguished Tait's work and accounts for his enduring popularity. In the present composition, the gentleman on the right is thought to be James Blackwell Blossom, a good friend of the artist's and a frequent companion on his hunting trips. Blossom and his brother, Josiah, who may be the second figure, were the owners of a prosperous naval store business in New York. Tait depicted James again in a later painting, Going Out: Deer Hunting in the Adirondacks, 1862, now in the collection of The Adirondacks Experience, Blue Mountain Lake, New York. The artist had previously painted the present scene in 1853 at a smaller scale and titled Wild Duck Shooting: A Good Day's Sport, which was later published as a hand-colored lithograph by N. Currier. The earlier painting depicts the Clark brothers, who were prominent Tammany politicians. Tait frequently made copies of his own work and may have painted the 1857 composition because of the scene's popularity. The work was originally owned by Harry T. Peters, author of the definitive book on Currier & Ives prints and it was one of several paintings by Tait in the author's collection. Tait's passion for sport and wildlife allowed him to imbue his works with telling and accurate details that continue to appeal today to the American public.
Hindman
Aug. 27, 2022
ARTHUR FITZWILLIAM TAIT (NY/UK, 1819-1905)
Est: $8,000 - $10,000
"Edward Bay" or "On the Island", depicting a crane fishing at water's edge, oil on canvas, signed and titled lower left, titled on label verso, housed in a replica gilt frame, OS: 27" x 23", SS: 20" x 16", very good condition.
Thomaston Place Auction Galleries
Jul. 19, 2022
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait
Est: $800 - $1,200
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait, American 1819-1905, Oil on Panel, Duck With Chicks, signed Lower Right, AFT Framed
Nathan Auction & Real Estate Inc.
May. 17, 2022
ARTHUR FITZWILLIAM TAIT (1819-1905) View on Long Lake oil on canvas 20 x 30
Est: $30,000 - $50,000
ARTHUR FITZWILLIAM TAIT (1819-1905) View on Long Lake oil on canvas 20 x 30 in. (50.8 x 76.2 cm.)
Christie's
May. 17, 2022
ARTHUR FITZWILLIAM TAIT (1819-1905) Grouse Family oil on canvas 27 3/4 x 44
Est: $30,000 - $50,000
ARTHUR FITZWILLIAM TAIT (1819-1905) Grouse Family oil on canvas 27 3/4 x 44 1/4 in. (70.5 x 112.4 cm.), oval
Christie's
May. 14, 2022
AFTER ARTHUR FITZWILLIAM TAIT (BRITISH-AMERICAN 1819-1905)
Est: $500 - $700
The Hunt From "American Field Sports" Series colored lithograph 48 x 67.5 cm (18 7/8 x 26 5/8 in.) [sight] framed dimensions: 65.5 x 85 cm (25 3/4 x 33 1/2 in.) CONDITION Observed in frame, the lithograph is in very good condition. N.B. All lots are sold in as-is condition at the time of sale. Please note that any condition statement regarding works of art is given as a courtesy to our clients in order to assist them in assessing the condition. The report is a genuine opinion held by Shapiro Auctions and should not be treated as a statement of fact. The absence of a condition report or a photograph does not preclude the absence of defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others. Shapiro Auctions, LLC., including its consultants and agents, shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.
Shapiro Auctions LLC
Apr. 13, 2022
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (British-American 1819-1905)
Est: $80,000 - $120,000
Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (British-American 1819-1905) The Last Shot, Oil on canvas, Unsigned. The Last Shot is one of only twenty-two paintings Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait painted in his western series. This series was the first he executed upon his arrival in the United States. The series was completed in a one decade period from 1852 to the early 1860's. Tait's fascination with western life was fed by his involvement with George Catlin's Indian Gallery in Manchester, England. He was employed by Catlin as a living mannequin to depict through costume, makeup and performance, an Indian of the West. This experience in the 1840's helped finalize his decision to emigrate to the US in the early 1850's. The western series was very popular with the American public. This was the period of western expansion and as such whetted the appetite of the American populace for depicting the challenges experienced by pioneers blazing the trail. The most exciting subject was of encounters with the native population who were not pleased with the encroachment onto their lands by trappers, hunters and trail blazers. The conflict and challenges this subject provided was the main thrust of the paintings in Tait's western series. The paintings in the series provided a loose narrative of the western experience, with titles such as Trappers Following the Trail, At Fault; The Check, Keep Your Distance; The Pursuit, The Last War Whoop and ultimately this painting. These images provided the public the adventure they craved. Through beautiful rendering both of animals and action figures, Tait was able to convey the movement, danger and tension involved in western exploration. Although largely a self taught painter, his inherent artistic abilities allowed him to associate with fellow artists. Among them was William Ranney, who he met upon his arrival in the US. Ranney had been in the Texas army and was also a painter of the West. His stories of his experiences as well as other western accounts shaped Tait's views of the West. Ranney possessed a large collection of western artifacts including clothing, weapons, and stuffed animals which would aid Tait's accurate depiction of the western experience. Tait himself never ventured West which makes his western oeuvre all the more interesting. The Last Shot captures the scene in gory detail. The firing of the trapper's last shot to save himself from being tomahawked, draws upon Tait's understanding of such an occurrence. The artist's depiction of the horses, their musculature as well as fearful expressions is in keeping with Tait's exceptional ability to render animals. The details depicted such as the shield, the tomahawk and the attire of both trapper and Indian were likely drawn from observations in the atelier of William Ranney. All of these details add to and enhance the narrative of this remarkable work. Tait's ability to render the vastness of the prairie through the use of figures disappearing in the distance is repeated in several of the works in the series. In this painting, distance is conveyed by the riderless horse disappearing into the distance, the dead rider seen lying in the deep grass between the legs of the horse on the right. Lastly, the rendering of the vast panoply of the sky adds to the seemingly endless scope of the painting. The Last Shot was chosen by Currier and Ives and delineated by Louis Maurer. Maurer delineated other Tait works for the printmakers specifically A Check, Keep Your Distance and Trappers on The Prairie, Peace or War.
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