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Lot 77: FIDELIA BRIDGES, American (1834-1923), Portfolio of 96 Illustrations, 18 x 22 inches (each sheet, overall)

Est: $30,000 USD - $50,000 USDSold:
3 b's Shannon'sMilford, CT, USDecember 04, 2021

Item Overview

Description

FIDELIA BRIDGES
American, (1834-1923)
Portfolio of 96 Illustrations

31 sheets
mixed media on paper on board
some signed

OLIVER INGRAHAM LAY
(American, 1845-1890)
PORTRAIT OF FIDELIA BRIDGES
oil on canvas laid down on paper
unsigned
16 1/2 x 11 1/2 inches

Dimensions

18 x 22 inches (each sheet, overall)

Artist or Maker

Provenance

The artist; to her close friend and New York City portraitist, Oliver Ingraham Lay; descended in the family to the present owner.
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Fidelia Bridges enjoyed a long and successful career as a painter of meticulous depictions of the natural world, particularly of birds and flowers. She spent her summers painting along the banks of the Housatonic River in Stratford, Connecticut and outdoors in Old Lyme, Connecticut.

Attracted to Old Lyme by her friend and New York City portrait artist, Oliver Ingraham Lay, Bridges sketched wildlife in the shoreline town on numerous occasions. The New Haven Register reported in 1882 that "from the suggestion of O.I. Lay [Fidelia Bridges] took a house here a few years since and found abundant opportunities for her lovely foreground water-color drawings."

Bridges and Lay met in Brooklyn in 1865. By this time, she had already made sketching trips with her friend, teacher and mentor William Trost Richards to Lake George and the Lehigh Valley. Bridges and Lay were close friends during this period and after her return from Europe in 1868. In 1872, Lay painted his first portrait of Bridges (now at the Smithsonian American Art Museum). In 1873, upon election as an Associate of the National Academy of Design, Bridges presented this portrait by her friend Lay as her official Academy portrait.

That summer, Bridges boarded a train to Old Lyme, her "special resort for the prosecution of her beautiful art." Lay, whose family home was in Old Lyme, surely influenced her decision to first visit the area. Bridges visited Old Lyme in 1873 and 1874. She submitted paintings to the American Watercolor Society's exhibition in February 1875 earning critical acclaim, "Too much praise cannot be awarded Miss Fidelia Bridges for her beautiful studies…Miss Bridges apparently selects the most commonplace subjects, and yet, by her pleasant manner of treatment, transforms them into interesting pictures."

In addition to the favorable critical reception at the 1875 exhibition, her watercolors commanded higher prices than those of her contemporaries, including Winslow Homer. A writer for the Brooklyn Eagle commented in 1874, "Miss Bridges is unquestionably one of the most successful of our local artists…Her pictures appear to have struck the popular fancy, and as a natural result, she has enjoyed a busy as well as profitable year."1

Bridges sold her work regularly to Louis Prang, the publisher of cards, calendars, and other popular publications, establishing herself one of the most financially successful female artists of her time. In the present lot, many of the smaller sketches are annotated for Mr. Prang.

In addition to her sketches from Old Lyme her illustrations of birds and botanicals were inspired by locations in the Catskills, the New Hampshire mountains, the New Jersey coast and especially the salt marshes of the New England coast – particularly Stratford, Connecticut.

Works from the present lot are annotated with locations in New Jersey, Newport, Massachusetts, Old Lyme, Stratford and one sketch from Rome, Italy. Her patrons, listed in the sketchbook include L.A. Shattuck, Esqr., from Boston, Hon. Seth Low of Brooklyn, Miss Harriet Lee from Salem, Hon. John W. Cary from Milwaukee, Wis, Enoch Lewis from Philadelphia and Mr. Wheeler of London among others. She worked tirelessly and achieved success both at home and abroad.

Bridges' colors were vibrant, and attention to detail was her hallmark. Luminist artist John Frederick Kensett said of her work, "Her works are like little lyric poems, and she dwells with loving touches on each of her buds, ‘like blossoms atilt' among the leaves."2

In 1883, Lay painted a second portrait of Bridges that was exhibited at the National Academy in the fall of 1884 and is now in the Smithsonian collection. A small study for this large portrait is included with the present lot.

Bridges eventually settled in Canaan, Connecticut in her later years, becoming a beloved fixture in the town, associating regularly with other local women of literary and artistic backgrounds. She died in Canaan on May 14, 1923. Her paintings are held by the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, as well as many others.
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1 Carolyn Wakeman, "Exhibition Note: Fidelia Bridges' Forgotten Summers," from Florence Griswold Museum, August 30, 2017, https://florencegriswoldmuseum.org/exhibition-note-fidelia-bridges-forgotten-summers/, date accessed September 1, 2021.
2 Ibid.
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Tags: woman artist, female artist, Connecticut artist, works on paper, listed artist, 19th century

Payment & Shipping

Payment

Accepted forms of payment: American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

As a convenience to the Buyer, Shannon's LLC will make a referral
for packing and shipping. For a preliminary quote you may contact Jeff Von Flatern at jvonflatern3757@theupsstore.com or 203-453-8866.
Shipping is at the request, expense, and risk
of the Buyer, and Shannon's assumes no responsibility for the
items or the timing of delivery. Insurance for in transit items is the
responsibility of the buyer.

Auction Details

Fine Art Auction

by
3 b's Shannon's
December 04, 2021, 06:00 PM EST

49 Research Drive, Milford, CT, 06460, US

Terms

Buyer's Premium

30.0%

Bidding Increments

From:To:Increment:
$0$499$25
$500$999$50
$1,000$1,999$100
$2,000$4,999$250
$5,000$9,999$500
$10,000$19,999$1,000
$20,000$49,999$2,000
$50,000$99,999$5,000
$100,000+$10,000

Terms and Conditions

Shannon's LLC Fine Art Auctioneers acts solely as an agent for
various owners and consignors. It exercises care in describing all
items listed and uses judgment in attributing authorship, but offers
no guarantee regarding authenticity, condition, or description.
The items described in this catalog, which description may be
amended by notice or announcement at sale time, are offered for
sale by Shannon's LLC as agent for various owners or others
authorized to sell the items. Hereinafter, Shannon's LLC is referred to
as the Sellers agent. The owners or others authorized to sell the
items are hereinafter referred to as Sellers. The person or persons
acknowledged by the auctioneer to be the highest bidder on an
item shall be hereinafter referred to as the Buyer or Buyers.
Shannon's LLC reserves the right to change the terms of sale by oral
announcement. Any such change shall become part of the
Conditions of Sale. By placing of a bid, whether present at the sale
in person or by agent, by written or oral bid, by telephone or other
means, the Buyer agrees to be bound by these conditions of sale.
1. The highest bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer shall be
the Buyer. In the event of any dispute between bidders, the
auctioneer has the absolute discretion to determine which
bidder is the successful Buyer or to re-offer the item in dispute
and resell it.
2. In the event of any dispute after the sale, Shannon's LLC's record
of the final sale price and of the successful buyer shall be
conclusive, Shannon's LLC reserves the right to withdraw any
item before or during the sale.
3. Shannon's LLC reserves the right to sell items which are not listed
in the catalog.
4. Items in the auction are sold subject to a reserve. Such reserve is
confidential, but in no case will the reserve exceed the low
estimate. The auctioneer may reject any bid or increment not
commensurate with the value of the lot.
5. Order bids are accepted. A deposit may be required. Absent
parties may place bids by mail, email, fax or in person prior to the
sale. Order bids must be placed 24 hours prior to the day of sale.
Shannon's LLC will execute such bids up to the maximum
amount specified. Phones must be reserved 24 hours prior to the
day of sale. Phone bidders are encouraged to leave a cover bid
in case of technical failure. Shannon's is not responsible for errors
or omissions in the execution of these bids.
6. A premium of 25% of the successful bid will be applied to the
individual hammer price of all lots sold, to be paid by the buyer
as part of the purchase price. Purchases made through
Invaluable will be subject to an additional 5% charge (30%
total buyer's premium) and purchases made online through
shannons.com will be subject to an additional 2% charge
(27% buyer's premium). Payment may be made by, check,
ACH or wire transfer. Visa, MasterCard and Amex may
be used up to the amount of $5,000 per auction. We currently
collect sales tax in CT, KS, FL, MA, MI, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI and
VA and remit the appropriate sales tax. If we do not collect sales
tax in your state, it is still your responsibility to pay the proper tax
on your purchases.
ALL ITEMS MUST BE PAID FOR WITHIN 7 DAYS OF THE SALE, AT
WHICH POINT THEY WILL BE RELEASED FOR SHIPMENT OR DELIVERY.
7. Limited Warrantee: Although Shannon's LLC exercises due care
in describing the items listed and use good judgment in attributing authorship; it does not make any express or implied warrantee as to such authorship. Notwithstanding, Shannon's LLC may,
but shall have no obligation to, consider any reasonable request
for refund on the grounds of authenticity of authorship only and
only under the following conditions:
A. Notification must be made to Shannon's in writing within
7 days of receipt of the item.
B. The items must be returned within 28 days of the sale,
accompanied by written testimony from a recognized
authority that the lot in question is a forgery.
C. The limited warrantee does not extend to the lots identified
as attributions, school, circle, manner, or after.
D. The limited warrantee is applicable only to the original Buyer.
8. All property is sold "as is".
9. As a convenience to the Buyer, Shannon's LLC will make a
referral for packing and shipping. This is at the request, expense,
and risk of the Buyer, and Shannon's assumes no responsibility for
the items or the timing of delivery. Insurance for in transit items is
the responsibility of the buyer. All items must be removed within
30 days post sale or a fee of up to $20 per day will be charged
for storage. Items not collected within twelve months of a sale
will become the property of Shannon's.
10. Shannon's has retained the Art Loss Register to check all
uniquely identifiable items offered for sale in the catalog that
are estimated for $5,000 or more against the computerized
database of stolen or lost artwork maintained by the Art Loss
Register. A search certificate can be provided by the Art Loss
Register for an additional fee. The Art Loss Register does not
guarantee the provenance or title of any catalogued item
against which they search, and will not be liable for any direct
or consequential losses of any nature howsoever arising. The
statement is not to affect, detract from, or override Shannon's
Conditions of Sale, and in the event of any conflict, Shannon's
Conditions of Sale will take priority to the terms of this statement.
BIDDING AT THIS AUCTION, WHETHER IN PERSON, BY AGENT, ORDER
BID, TELEPHONE, INTERNET OR OTHER MEANS, CONSTITUTES YOUR
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND ACCEPTANCE OF THESE "CONDITIONS
OF SALE".
CONDITIONS OF SALE
After: A work of art or object made in the style of an artist or maker, but not by the artist. Sometimes refers multiples that may have used an
artist's mold or plate, but were reproduced by someone other than the artist, including posthumous works. Can also be used to describe a
direct reproduction after an original work of art.
Attributed (attr.): In our opinion, probably or possibly a work of art by the artist. The work is either unsigned, and/or lacks adequate provenance or authentication by experts in the field.
Bears Signature: The work is signed, but the work and signature may not be by the hand of the artist.
Manner of: Made in the likeness or style of an artist, with a slight possibility that it was made by the artist or by a follower or student of the
artist. Also see "After" and "Attributed".
Possibly: Being something that may or may not be true or actual without guarantee.
Probably: Supported by evidence strong enough to establish presumption but not proof. We do not guarantee it to be true.
School: Usually relates to a particular artistic or aesthetic movement. It can also relate to an actual school or to followers of a particular artist
or maker. Also see: "Manner of", "Style", "Attributed to" and "After".
Style: After the time period in which the style originated, or a more recent reproduction (ie: Style of Pablo Picasso or Cubist Style), used to
refer to the style of a particular artist or artistic movement, generally made long after that time period.

Contract

Your bid is a binding and legal contract. BIDDING AT THIS AUCTION, WHETHER IN PERSON, BY AGENT, ORDER BID, TELEPHONE, INTERNET OR OTHER MEANS, CONSTITUTES YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND ACCEPTANCE OF THESE "CONDITIONS OF SALE".

Payment Information

Payment may be made by check or wire transfer. Visa, Master Card and Amex may be used up to the amount of $5,000 per auction. We currently
collect sales tax in CT, KS, FL, MA, MI, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI and
VA and remit the appropriate sales tax. If we do not collect sales
tax in your state, it is still your responsibility to pay the proper tax
on your purchases.
ALL ITEMS MUST BE PAID FOR WITHIN 7 DAYS OF THE SALE, AT WHICH POINT THEY WILL BE RELEASED FOR SHIPMENT OR DELIVERY.

Shipping Information

As a convenience to the Buyer, Shannon's LLC will make a referral
for packing and shipping. For a preliminary quote you may contact Jeff Von Flatern at jvonflatern3757@theupsstore.com or 203-453-8866.
Shipping is at the request, expense, and risk
of the Buyer, and Shannon's assumes no responsibility for the
items or the timing of delivery. Insurance for in transit items is the
responsibility of the buyer.

Buyer's Premium

A premium of 25% of the successful bid will be applied to the
individual hammer price of all lots sold, to be paid by the buyer
as part of the purchase price. Purchases made through
Invaluable will be subject to an additional 5% charge (30%
total buyer's premium) and purchases made online through
shannons.com will be subject to an additional 2% charge
(27% buyer's premium). Payment may be made by, check,
ACH or wire transfer. Visa, MasterCard and Amex may
be used up to the amount of $5,000 per auction. We currently
collect sales tax in CT, KS, FL, MA, MI, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI and
VA and remit the appropriate sales tax. If we do not collect sales
tax in your state, it is still your responsibility to pay the proper tax
on your purchases.
ALL ITEMS MUST BE PAID FOR WITHIN 7 DAYS OF THE SALE, AT WHICH POINT THEY WILL BE RELEASED FOR SHIPMENT OR DELIVERY.

Taxes on your purchase

We currently collect sales tax in CT, KS, FL, MA, MI, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI and VA and remit the appropriate sales tax. If we do not collect sales
tax in your state, it is still your responsibility to pay the proper tax
on your purchases.
ALL ITEMS MUST BE PAID FOR WITHIN 7 DAYS OF THE SALE, AT WHICH POINT THEY WILL BE RELEASED FOR SHIPMENT OR DELIVERY.

Condition Statement & Glossary of Terms

Shannon's LLC Fine Art Auctioneers acts solely as an agent for various owners and consignors. It exercises care in describing all items listed and uses judgment in attributing authorship, but offers no guarantee regarding authenticity, condition, or description. The items described in this catalog, which description may be amended by notice or announcement at sale time, are offered for sale by Shannon's LLC as agent for various owners or others authorized to sell the items.

Glossary of Terms:
After:A work of art or object made in the style of an artist or maker, but not by the artist. Sometimes refers multiples that may have used an artist's mold or plate, but were reproduced by someone other than the artist, including posthumous works. Can also be used to describe a direct reproduction after an original work of art.
Attributed (attr.):In our opinion, probably or possibly a work of art by the artist. The work is either unsigned, and/or lacks adequate provenance or authentication by experts in the field.
Bears Signature: The work is signed, but the work and signature may not be by the hand of the artist.
Manner of: Made in the likeness or style of an artist, with a slight possibility that it was made by the artist or by a follower or student of the artist. Also see "After" and "Attributed".
Possibly:Being something that may or may not be true or actual without guarantee.
Probably:Supported by evidence strong enough to establish presumption but not proof. We do not guarantee it to be true.
School:Usually relates to a particular artistic or aesthetic movement. It can also relate to an actual school or to followers of a particular artist or maker. Also see:"Manner of", "Style", "Attributed to" and "After".
Style:After the time period in which the style originated, or a more recent reproduction (ie: Style of Pablo Picasso or Cubist Style), used to refer to the style of a particular artist or artistic movement, generally made long after that time period.