There were in fact nine Martin Lewis prints offered for sale at Swann Galleries on 22 September, all sold, with 5 going to one Australian enthusiast for the artist’s work.
Bridge Near Nikko, 1926 sold for US$1,625 IBP, Cronies, 1932, sold for US$3,500 IBP on US$3,000-5,000 estimate. Spring Night, Greenwich Village, 1930, an atmospheric work with estimates of US$15,000-20,000 was well bought at US$10,625 IBP. Chance Meeting, 1940/41, with a very war-time feel was estimated at US$7,000-10,000 and fetched US$10,000 IBP.
The prize of the night however went to what Swann Galleries referred to as Martin Lewis’ most popular print which sold out soon after completion in 1928: Relics (Speakeasy Corner) was estimated at US$30,000-50,000 and was secured for a joint record price of US$52,500 IBP (AU$69,000).
This equals the record price paid for Shadow Dance, 1930, sold through Swann in September 2010, and Glow of the City, 1929, also sold at Swann Galleries in March 2015.
Incidentally, The Art Gallery of New South Wales have just announced their own new acquisition of Glow of the City with funds provided by the Art Gallery Society, adding to their earlier purchase of Lewis’ Stoops in the Snow.
In 2002, Castlemaine Regional Gallery staged the exhibition Martin Lewis – Stepping into the Light, which toured to Devonport Regional Gallery, Heide Museum and Queensland Art Gallery.
There are just two auction records for Martin Lewis’ work listed in Australia, both with Leonard Joel almost exactly 13 years ago: Moonrise was estimated at $800-1,200, but rising to $3,250 hammer, while New York trumped its $1,000-$1,500 estimate with ease and sold for an $8,000 hammer price on 13 October 2003.
Sale reference: Swann Auction Galleries, New York, 19th and 20th Century Prints & Drawings, 22 September 2016
