Lot 186
  • 186

William Henry Dethlef Koerner 1878-1938

Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 USD
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Description

  • William Henry Dethlef Koerner
  • "Judith Sat Straight and Formidable in her Saddle, Facing Caleb Coldly...": A Pair of Illustrations from the Novel, Wild Geese
  • signed with initials WHDK, l.r. of right canvas
  • each oil on canvas, two paintings framed together at a 45 degree angle from one another to form a corner   (2 paintings)

  • Each: 40 by 30 in.
  • 101.6 by 76.2 cm.

Provenance

Estate of the artist, Santa Barbara (#116, painting on the left)
Fenn Gallery, Santa Fe 
Private Collection, Kansas (both works)

Condition

For Both: canvases are not lined. SURFACE: both in good condition, generally; some scattered craquelure--with stretcher marks; abrasion along the edges UNDER ULTRA VIOLET: a few spots of inpainting in white, background areas
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Catalogue Note

The novel Wild Geese was the crowning literary achievement of Canadian author and poet Martha Ostenso (1900-1963).  Ostenso set the romance on the tough Canadian frontier, where she had spent some of her early life.  When it was written in 1924, the book was initially titled The Passionate Flight. She was living in New York by this time and entered it in a nationwide competition for best first novel sponsored by the magazine The Pictorial Review, the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation and the Dodd, Mead Publishing Company.  She won first prize over 1,700 entries and $13,500.  The book appeared in The Pictorial Review over several installments from August through November, 1925.  Koerner was commissioned to illustrate the book for the magazine and the present illustration appeared in the August issue.  The plot became the basis of the 1941 Hollywood epic Calling Wild Geese, which starred Henry Fonday and Joan Bennett.