A painting by Andrew Wyeth's son, Jamie Wyeth, sold for FIVE TIMES its presale estimate, making me ask the question: Did someone just really like this painting, or did they see the name Wyeth and jump on it.
It was estimated to sell for 40,000, which is a lot anyway, so obviously the guy has some fame. But in all honesty, the piece resembles a less well-done Andrew Wyeth piece.
I see the attraction. Its a very well-done portrait, with the added "psychology" of a circle around the dog's eye. It's a beautiful animal, a quirky portrait, and an intimate look at man's best friend, but I really don't see it as a piece that would "knock me out of my socks." It just seems a little basic. With Andrew Wyeth's work, there was always a deeper feeling. Isolation, desolation, wonderment or awe. And here, I see intamacy, but I'm not sure I feel it. I don't see the emotion in the dog, or in the piece, or in the composition. It just seems....a bit static.
Anyways, I don't make decisions about other people's money for a lot of reasons, but if it were me, I'd take a good hard look at this piece, try very hard to forget the last name of the artist, and then decide if it is worth the estimate, let alone five times that. That said, I don't follow Jamie Wyeth's work, and maybe he is a revolutionary that I have happened to miss, I just don't see it in this work, and when it comes to relatives of famous artists, a name can be all you see.
full story and full artwork below
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41892041/ns/today-entertainment/
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