Wednesday, November 26, 2014

George Luks at Auction

Born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in 1866, George Luks attended the school of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia in 1884. He spent the following ten years in Düsseldorf, Paris, and London, and may have studied in various art academies in these cities. Upon his return to the United States, Luks worked for the art department of the Philadelphia Press in 1894 and the following year traveled to Cuba as an artist-correspondent for the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. In 1896 he joined the staff of The New York World as an illustrator and cartoonist.
While at The World, Luks renewed an earlier friendship with William Glackens and Everett Shinn. Both illustrators were also committed to painting, and Glackens encouraged Luks to experiment with the medium. By 1904 Luks was accomplished enough to exhibit with his friends at the National Arts Club in New York. Four years later he joined seven other artists under the leadership of Robert Henri in forming a group that rebelled against the academic art establishment. Known as The Eight, an exhibition of their work became a progressive force in American art, revitalizing realist painting. Throughout his career, Luks sought out working class subjects for his art. He exhibited paintings and drawings of urban life and city dwellers in the Armory Show in 1913, which showcased modern art.
Luks continued to paint and exhibit and taught for several years at the Art Students League in New York. He founded his own school and painted alongside his students until his death in 1933.

Christie's November 19, 2014





GEORGE LUKS (1867-1933)

IN THE CORNER

Estimate $800,000 - $1,200,000 Price Realized $785,000 



Christie's 2013





GEORGE BENJAMIN LUKS (AMERICAN, 1867-1933)

THE JOY OF LIVING

Estimate $4,000 - $6,000 Price Realized $2,250 

 Christie's 2012



GEORGE BENJAMIN LUKS (1867-1933)

THE WHITE CAT

Estimate $4,000 - $6,000 Price Realized $8,750 



Christie's 2009



More Christie's



GEORGE LUKS (1867-1933)

WOMAN AND DOLL

Estimate $15,000 - $25,000 Price Realized $21,600 



GEORGE LUKS (1867-1933)

FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK

Estimate $70,000 - $100,000 Price Realized $102,000 



GEORGE LUKS (1867-1933)

MAN WITH A MONOCLE

Estimate $40,000 - $60,000 Price Realized $38,400 



Market at Dawn
PRICE REALIZED
$40,000



Street Vendor
PRICE REALIZED
$7,500



GEORGE LUKS (1867-1933)

THE PAWNBROKER

Estimate $10,000 - $15,000 Price Realized $26,400 

Bonhams 2011



George Benjamin Luks (American, 1867-1933) 
The apple seller, 1899; 
t 8 5/8 x 6in, 9 5/8 x 7in
US$ 3,000 - 5,000

Sotheby's


GEORGE BENJAMIN LUKS
PURPLE HILLS




Estimate 10,000 — 15,000 LOT SOLD. 17,500 


GEORGE BENJAMIN LUKS
PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG MAN




Estimate 10,000 — 15,000 LOT SOLD. 25,000




GEORGE BENJAMIN LUKS
1867 - 1933
LILY WILLIAMS








Estimate

800,000 — 1,200,000

LOT SOLD. 1,874,500









GEORGE LUKS

1867-1933

THE BREAKER BOYS




Estimate


150,000 — 250,000
LOT SOLD. 170,50
Swann 2007





  • GEORGE LUKS 
    Bearded Man in a Cap
    Estimate $6,000 - $9,000
    Price Realized (with Buyer's Premium) $5,280

Swann 2004



  • GEORGE LUKS 
    Two drawings-  Market Scene, Figure Procession
    Estimate $2,000 - $3,000
    Price Realized (with Buyer's Premium) $2,530


Swann 2003



  • GEORGE LUKS 
    Couple in a Cafe
    Estimate $5,000 - $8,000
    Price Realized (with Buyer's Premium) $8,855

William Doyle



George Benjamin Luks
(American, 1867-1933)
Man and Child with Guitar, 1908 Signed and dated
Oil on canvas
28 5/8 x 29 1/2 inches 


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