Fairfield Porter

Fairfield Porter was born in Winnetka, Illinois. A realistic artist, he is best known for his landscapes and sunlit views of interiors, although he also did portraits and still lifes. His work is often described as modernized American impressionist.

In addition to receiving a degree from Harvard University, he took formal art
training from 1928 to 1930, and studied with Boardman Robinson and Thomas
Hart Benton at the Art Students League in New York City. Later, in 1949, he moved to Southampton, Long Island, where he painted images that reflected his comfortable life as a country dweller, and his appreciation of the effects of nature.

Porter combined a soft, pastel palette with a broad brushstroke. Subjects were suburban and without obvious problems, similar to the content of other realists of his time, such as Larry Rivers and Alex Katz.

Porter makes no attempt at perfect representation and will insert objects such as lopsided bottles and awkward figures, which are clearly planned to contribute to the overall structure of the painting. His works of portraiture included many famous subjects, such as Larry Rivers, Andy Warhol and the poet John Ashbery.

In addition to his work as an artist, Porter was also a writer, publishing art
critiques in major art journals throughout the 1940s and 1950s, as well as a
monograph about Thomas Eakins in 1959.

Source:
Matthew Baigell, “Dictionary of American Art”
Michael David Zellman, “300 Years of American Art”

Pricing Forecast

The forecast for Porter pieces seems flat, auction results show pieces selling at or below estimates, with a few going above esitimates

Title:
Lobster Boat, Morning

Sales Price**: $451,500
**(Includes auction fee to buyer)
Low Estimate: $200,000
High Estimate: $300,000

Signature: Signed and Dated
Size: 27.75″ x 31.75″
(70.49cm x 80.65cm)
Created: 1970
Medium: Oil / Canvas

Auction Lot: 8
Auction House:
Christie’s New York, Rockefeller Center
Auction Date: 11/22/2016

See all lots for this auction

Art images copyright© of artist or assignee
View larger image and additional information
Title:
Sara and Julie

Hammer Price*: not communicated
*(Does not include auction fee to buyer)
Low Estimate: $60,000
High Estimate: $80,000

Signature: Signed and Dated
Size: 30.00″ x 22.00″
(76.20cm x 55.88cm)
Created: 1975
Medium: Oil / Masonite

Auction Lot: 15
Auction House: Christie’s Online
Auction Date: 09/16/2016-09/22/2016

See all lots for this auction

Art images copyright© of artist or assignee
View larger image and additional information
Title:
South Meadow

Sales Price**: $938
**(Includes auction fee to buyer)
Low Estimate: $1,500
High Estimate: $2,500

Signature: Signed
Size: 21.25″ x 28.75″
(53.98cm x 73.03cm)
Created: circa 1972
Medium: Ink ,pencil and pastel / Paper

Auction Lot: 65296
Auction House: Heritage Auctions
Auction Date: 06/24/2016-06/27/2016

See all lots for this auction

Art images copyright© of artist or assignee
View larger image and additional information
Title:
Around the Bend

Sales Price**: $4,250
**(Includes auction fee to buyer)
Low Estimate: $3,000
High Estimate: $5,000

Signature: Signed and Dated
Size: 14.00″ x 20.00″
(35.56cm x 50.80cm)
Created: 1927
Medium: Watercolor and ink / Paper

Auction Lot: 127
Auction House: Swann Galleries
Auction Date: 06/09/2016

See all lots for this auction

Art images copyright© of artist or assignee
View larger image and additional information
Title:
Railroad Tracks and Locomotives.

Sales Price**: $7,500
**(Includes auction fee to buyer)
Low Estimate: $3,000
High Estimate: $5,000

Signature: Signed
Size: 14.25″ x 21.75″
(36.20cm x 55.25cm)
Created: c.1940
Medium: Watercolor and gouache with pencil / Paper

Auction Lot: 128
Auction House: Swann Galleries
Auction Date: 06/09/2016

See all lots for this auction

Art images copyright© of artist or assignee
View larger image and additional information
Title:
Houses Along the Coast; Farm House

Sales Price**: $4,750
**(Includes auction fee to buyer)
Low Estimate: $4,000
High Estimate: $6,000

Signature: Signed
Size: Dimensions not available
Created: not given
Medium: Watercolor / Paper

Auction Lot: 129
Auction House: Swann Galleries
Auction Date: 06/09/2016

See all lots for this auction

Art images copyright© of artist or assignee
View larger image and additional information
Title:
Two Figures (Study for Couple with Pears and Crysanthemums).

Sales Price**: $3,000
**(Includes auction fee to buyer)
Low Estimate: $3,000
High Estimate: $5,000

Size: 22.00″ x 30.00″
(55.88cm x 76.20cm)
Created: 1974
Medium: Watercolor / Paper

Auction Lot: 130
Auction House: Swann Galleries
Auction Date: 06/09/2016

See all lots for this auction

Art images copyright© of artist or assignee
View larger image and additional information
Title:
Breakfast in Maine II; Breakfast in Maine III

Sales Price**: $4,680
**(Includes auction fee to buyer)
Low Estimate: $1,200
High Estimate: $1,800

Signature: Signed
Size: Dimensions not available
Created: c.1940s/1948
Medium: Pencil / Paper

Auction Lot: 131
Auction House: Swann Galleries
Auction Date: 06/09/2016

See all lots for this auction

Sales Price**: $1,625
**(Includes auction fee to buyer)
Low Estimate: $1,200
High Estimate: $1,800

Signature: Signed Lower Right
Size: 15.00″ x 20.00″
(38.10cm x 50.80cm)
Created: c.1955
Medium: Pencil / Paper

Auction Lot: 132
Auction House: Swann Galleries
Auction Date: 06/09/2016

See all lots for this auction

Art images copyright© of artist or assignee
View larger image and additional information
Title:
Reclining Man; Christmas Tree; Fignure in the Living Room

Hammer Price*: -not sold-
*(Does not include auction fee to buyer)
Low Estimate: $1,000
High Estimate: $1,500

Size: Dimensions not available
Created: not given
Medium: Pen and ink / Paper

Auction Lot: 133
Auction House: Swann Galleries
Auction Date: 06/09/2016

See all lots for this auction

Art images copyright© of artist or assignee
View larger image and additional information
Title:
Study for Beginning of the Fields; Figure and View from Porch; Study for Porch in Maine; City View

Sales Price**: $1,950
**(Includes auction fee to buyer)
Low Estimate: $1,500
High Estimate: $2,500

Size: Dimensions not available
Created: 1968-1978
Medium: Pen and ink / Paper

Auction Lot: 134
Auction House: Swann Galleries
Auction Date: 06/09/2016

See all lots for this auction

Sales Price**: $35,000
**(Includes auction fee to buyer)
Low Estimate: $25,000
High Estimate: $35,000

Signature: Signed and Dated
Size: 18.13″ x 20.13″
(46.05cm x 51.13cm)
Created: 1963
Medium: Oil / Canvas

Auction Lot: 216
Auction House: Sotheby’s New York
Auction Date: 06/09/2016