George Henry Durrie Paintings & Artwork for Sale | George Henry Durrie Art Value Price Guide

Jan. 25, 2025
George Henry Durrie (1820 - 1863)
Est: $5,000 - $7,000
oil on canvas dated 1842 30 in. by 25 in. each signed and dated on verso Painted by Durrie/May 1842 Please note that we have a new registration process and we highly recommend registering early to the sale. If you encounter any difficulty, please contact the Bids Department at [email protected] or call +1 (212) 606-7414 for assistance.
Sotheby's
Jan. 19, 2025
After George Henry Durrie (American, 1820-1863).
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
After George Henry Durrie (American, 1820-1863). Coming Home in the Snow, 1859. Oil on canvas, signed and dated 'G.H. Durrie 1859' (lower left), in good condition aside from craquelure throughout, framed. 12 1/2 x 18in. (31.7 x 45.7cm). 15 x 20in. (38 x 50.8cm/frame).
Fine Estate Inc.
Nov. 22, 2024
ATTRIBUTED TO GEORGE HENRY DURRIE (Connecticut, 1820-1863), "Sandy Point"., Oil on panel, 20" x 24.75". Framed 28" x 32.5".
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
ATTRIBUTED TO GEORGE HENRY DURRIE Connecticut, 1820-1863 "Sandy Point". Signed and dated lower right "G. Durrie 1845". Titled on frame plaque.
Eldred's
Nov. 17, 2024
George Henry Durrie (American, 1820-1863).
Est: $10,000 - $15,000
George Henry Durrie (American, 1820-1863). Coming Home in the Snow, 1859. Oil on canvas, signed and dated 'G.H. Durrie 1859' (lower left), in good condition aside from craquelure throughout, framed. 12 1/2 x 18in. (31.7 x 45.7cm). 15 x 20in. (38 x 50.8cm/frame).
Fine Estate Inc.
May. 07, 2024
Lot of Two G. H. Durrie Prints
Est: $50 - $100
Lot consisting of 1) after George H. Durrie (American, 1820-1863), "Home to Thanksgiving", Currier & Ives lithograph on paper depicting a family greeting a guest at their door, 7" x 12" image size, 12 1/2" x 15 1/2" framed; and 2) after George H. Durrie (American, 1820-1863), "Wintertime - A Stop at the Inn", depicting a winter scene of travelers in horse-drawn carriages, 8 1/2" x 13 1/2" image size, 13 1/4" x 18 1/4" framed.
Old Kinderhook Auction Company
Apr. 13, 2024
George Henry Durrie, "Twelve Miles To Goshen"
Est: $100,000 - $150,000
George Henry Durrie (1820-1863), "Twelve Miles To Goshen", Oil on canvas, Signed and dated Jan 1858 lower right
Scottsdale Art Auction, LLC
Apr. 06, 2024
GEORGE HENRY DURRIE, RURAL FISHING SCENE
Est: $30,000 - $50,000
DURRIE, George Henry (1820-1863). Untitled, (Rural Fishing Scene). Oil on Canvas. Signed lower left: "Durrie / 1856". 29 1/2" x 24 5/8" canvas, 35 1/4" x 30 1/8" framed. Full write-up by William H. Gerdts avilable upon request. "The single figure of the fisherman functions in many ways in this painting. He not only gives human presence and a bit of activity to an otherwise uninhabited scene, but also confirms the rural nature of the landscape. A small figure, in comparison to the lofty trees on either side, such a contrast exalts the splendor of nature. But in addition, the very act of fishing was a common motif among American painters of the rural landscape; Durrie himself painted several others, though the present work is, for the artist, a particularly sizable example." - Gerdts
Arader Galleries
Jan. 28, 2024
PAIR 1844 PORTRAITS SIGNED GEORGE DURRIE
Est: $2,500 - $3,500
Pair mid 19th century large oil on canvas portraits of a man and wife 1) Portrait of Alice Conover, Age 78 painted 1844 by GH Durrie - identified on back 2) Portrait of Josh Conover 1844, Copied from old picture - also id'd on back. Both 30 x 25 in, framed 38 x 33 in. (George Henry Durrie 1820 - 1863 was active/lived in Connecticut.)
Americana Auctions
Dec. 09, 2023
GEORGE HENRY DURRIE OIL, EAST ROCK, NEW HAVEN CT
Est: $25,000 - $35,000
DURRIE, George Henry (1820-1863). East Rock, New Haven, CT. Oil on canvas. Signed "Durrie" and dated "1849" 20 1/4"x 25 1/4" cavnas; 29" x 34" Framed. Original oil painting for a published lithograph by Durrie in 1853. Catalog Raissone: Martha Y. Hutson, George Henry Durrie (1820-1863), Santa Barbara, 1977, p. 217, no. 84. Provenance: Estate of Harry T. Peters, Orange, Virginia (Sold: Sotheby's, New York, October 22, 1982, lot 61).
Arader Galleries
Jul. 28, 2023
ATTRIBUTED TO GEORGE HENRY DURRIE (Connecticut, 1820-1863), "Sandy Point"., Oil on panel, 20" x 24.75. Framed 28" x 32.5".
Est: $3,000 - $5,000
ATTRIBUTED TO GEORGE HENRY DURRIE Connecticut, 1820-1863 "Sandy Point". Signed and dated lower right "G. Durrie 1845". Titled on frame plaque.
Eldred's
Jun. 24, 2023
Durrie Lithograph of West Rock, New Haven, Connecticut
Est: $1,500 - $3,000
DURRIE, George Henry (1820-1863), after. West Rock, New Haven. Lithograph with original hand color. New York: Sarony & Co, 1853. 20" x 26" sheet. West Rock Ridge or West Rock of south-central Connecticut, is a 7-mile long trap rock mountain ridge located on the west side of New Haven with a high point of 700 feet. The ridge forms a continuous line of exposed cliffs visible from metropolitan New Haven and points west.
Arader Galleries
May. 13, 2023
George Henry Durrie, Old Grist Mill, Poster on foamcore
Est: $37 - $45
Artist: George Henry Durrie, American (1820 - 1863) Title: Old Grist Mill Medium: Poster on foamcore Size: 18 x 26.5 in. (45.72 x 67.31 cm)
RoGallery
Nov. 26, 2022
George Henry Durrie (1820-1863, CT) oil painting
Est: $5,000 - $8,000
on canvas depicting a winter landscape with hunter. Signed lower left. Shows minor old repair. Appears to be in original frame. Sight size 14" x 18", overall with frame 20 1/2" x 24 1/2".
Marion Antique Auctions
Nov. 16, 2022
Currier & Ives "The Farmers Home - Winter" Print
Est: $800 - $1,600
George Henry Durrie (American, 1820-1863) for Currier and Ives, United States. Lithograph titled "The Farmers Home - Winter," depicting a man hauling hay on his back across a snowy yard towards a barn, 1863. Literature: Gale Research Company, "Currier & Ives, A Catalogue Raisonne," Volume 1: A-N (Gale Research Company: Detroit, 1984). Number 2048, page 218. Provenance: Distinguished Corporate Collection, Ohio. Currier and Ives was founded by Nathaniel Currier (American, 1813-1888) in 1835 as "the Grand Central Depot for Cheap and Popular Prints," but changed its name with the addition of James Merritt Ives (American, 1824-1895) in 1857. The company created over 7000 popular lithographs depicting American life until 1907.
Revere Auctions
Nov. 05, 2022
George Henry Durrie, Old Grist Mill, Poster on foamcore
Est: $90 - $150
Artist: George Henry Durrie, American (1820 - 1863) Title: Old Grist Mill Year: Medium: Poster on foamcore Image Size: Size: 18 x 26.5 in. (45.72 x 67.31 cm)
RoGallery
Oct. 27, 2022
GEORGE HENRY DURRIE, American (1820-1863), Autumn Landscape, oil on canvas, 18 1/2 x 24 inches
Est: $20,000 - $30,000
GEORGE HENRY DURRIE American, (1820-1863) Autumn Landscape oil on canvas initialed lower left "GHD"
Shannon's
Aug. 10, 2022
George Henry Durrie, Old Grist Mill, Poster on foamcore
Est: $90 - $150
Artist: George Henry Durrie, American (1820 - 1863) Title: Old Grist Mill Year: Medium: Poster on foamcore Image Size: Size: 18 x 26.5 in. (45.72 x 67.31 cm)
RoGallery
Apr. 19, 2022
George Henry Durrie, Old Grist Mill, Poster on foamcore
Est: $60 - $70
Artist: George Henry Durrie, American (1820 - 1863) Title: Old Grist Mill Medium: Poster on foamcore Size: 18 x 26.5 in. (45.72 x 67.31 cm)
RoGallery
Feb. 26, 2022
AFTER GEORGE H. DURRIE (AMERICAN 1820 - 1863)
Est: $200 - $400
DESCRIPTION: After George H. Durrie (American, 1820 - 1863). Oil on tin. Harbor scene. Unsigned. 19th century. Hand written in pencil to reverse, "George H Durrie Antiques Hov: 1957 page 412" and "L. Davis 9/2/58". In gilt and wood frame. MEASUREMENTS: 14" x 20"; frame 1" . CONDITION: Loss to frame. Craquelure to paint. KE IMPORTANT: Before bidding, please read the terms and conditions. When you registered for the auction you agreed to these terms and will be required to comply with them.
Cordier Auctions & Appraisals
Dec. 07, 2021
GEORGE HENRY DURRIE (AMERICAN, 1820-1863) WINTER IN THE COUNTRY, A COLD MORNING
Est: $20,000 - $30,000
George Henry Durrie (American, 1820-1863) Winter in the Country, A Cold Morning Oil on panel Executed circa 1863. (12 1/2 x 16 in. (31.8 x 40.6cm)) Provenance Pook & Pook Inc., Downington, sale of May 21, 2004, lot 299. Acquired directly from the above sale by the present owner. Footnote: Exhibited "An American View: The Hosek Collection of American Art," Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts, Spring, Texas, August 22 - December 20, 2009. "An American View Revisited: The Hosek Collection of American Art," Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts, Spring, Texas, November 17, 2018 - May 11, 2019. Note Winter in the Country, A Cold Morning is a well-known composition by George Henry Durrie, dating from the end of his career. Several other versions of this painting exist, each bearing the same title derived from a lithograph published by Currier and Ives in 1864. While the first version (now in a private Collection) dates from 1861, Durrie is known to have added details in each variant over the years. In 1862 for example, he repeated the original 1861 composition but replaced the man and dog on the road with an ox sledge and a man walking towards the inn (version now at the Shelburne Museum). This secon version added interest, and proved to be commercially succesful as it led to larger versions of the ox sledge alone. Durrie proceeded to paint the composition several times in this size between 1861 and 1863, and in smaller versions as well - some signed and some unsigned. In all of the versions Durrie produced (some on canvas, others on panel; some larger than others; some signed and others not), the artist kept the bright yellow house with green shutters, the gray barns and surrounding outbuildings, the smattering of chickens, and the towering bare tree, as exemplified in the present work. For another close version of this painting, see for example the version sold at Heritage Auctions, Dallas, on June 10, 2009, lot 77012. According to Martha Hutson-Saxton, the present work was still in Durrie's studio at the time of his death in 1863. That would explain the lack of signature, but also the absence genre details the artist would have integrated into the composition such as figures standing in front of the cottage, smoke coming from the chimney, or white snow dusted throughout the landscape. By the same token, this also means the work was not touched by Durrie's brothers, who were known for finishing his woprk after his death. As Hutson-Saxton states it, the present work realies on "a major composition for the artist," and given the rarity of the artist's work, should still be considered a "treasure" today. Dating from the end of the artist's life, the painting also shows the height of his stylistic development at the time, and can be seen as one of his most telling contributions to native winter landscape painting. We wish to thank Martha Hutson-Saxton for her kind assistance in cataloguing the present lot. Condition report: Frame: 18 3/4 x 22 x 2 1/2 in.
Freeman's
Nov. 28, 2021
George Henry Durrie, Old Grist Mill, Poster on foamcore
Est: $90 - $150
Artist: George Henry Durrie, American (1820 - 1863) Title: Old Grist Mill Year: Medium: Poster on foamcore Image Size: Size: 18 x 26.5 in. (45.72 x 67.31 cm)
RoGallery
Nov. 12, 2021
ATTR. GEORGE BOICE DURRIE (AMERICAN, 1842-1907) OIL ON CANVAS MOUNTED TO BOARD, C. 1860, H 19.5", W 29.25", NEW ENGLAND FARM
Est: $1,000 - $2,000
Depicting a New England summer farm scene. Visible image measures H 19.5" x W 29.25". Housed in a period frame, measuring H 28.5" x L 38.25". No visible signature. Literature: 'George Henry Durrie (1820-1863) - American Winter Landscapist: Renowned Through Currier and Ives' by Martha Young Hutson. 1977. p. 159, fig. 168. p. 226, no. 241. Property of a Pentwater, MI private collector.
DuMouchelles
Nov. 06, 2021
Attr. to George H. Durrie. Winter Landscape, oil
Est: $3,000 - $5,000
Attributed to George Henry Harvey Durrie (American, 1820-1863). Oil on canvas, unsigned, 22 x 29 3/4 in., framed.
Alex Cooper
Sep. 23, 2021
George Henry Durrie (1820 - 1863)" HUNTER IN WINTER "
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
George Henry Durrie (1820 - 1863)" HUNTER IN WINTER " ,Oil / Canvas Signed G.H. Durrie , measures 14" x18 .5 " inches
Cutler Bay Auctions
Aug. 28, 2021
ATTRIBUTED TO GEORGE HENRY DURRIE (CT, 1820-1863)
Est: $3,000 - $4,000
Possible Self-Portrait of George Henry Durrie, in oval format, depicting a middle aged bearded gent seated in a caned chair, his hands crossed at his waist, his legs covered with a blanket, possibly invalid, in Civil war era clothing, housed in original Victorian gilt gesso frame, SS: 16 1/2" x 13 1/2", OS: 23 1/4" x 19 1/4". Single small repaired puncture. This attribution was made by Marvin Sadik, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, who held this in his private collection.
Thomaston Place Auction Galleries
Aug. 28, 2021
GEORGE HENRY DURRIE (CT, 1820-1863)
Est: $10,000 - $15,000
A Pair: Ancient Farm Elm in Autumn & Fisherman in Summer Mountain Chasm, oil on board, oval format, autumn initialed 'D' lower right, summer signed 'Durrie' lower left, in matching rectangular Dutch gold panel frames, OS: 15 1/2" x 12 1/2", SS: 9 1/4" x 7". Very good condition. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, self-taught, first gaining a reputation in New Haven, known for his genre scenes, many of which became famous worldwide when reproduced in lithographic form by Currier & Ives (sadly mostly after his death at a young age).
Thomaston Place Auction Galleries
Jun. 08, 2021
George Henry Durrie (1820 - 1863)" HUNTER IN WINTER " ,Oil / Canvas
Est: $2,500 - $4,500
George Henry Durrie (1820 - 1863)" HUNTER IN WINTER " ,Oil / Canvas Signed G.H. Durrie , measures 14" x18 .5 " inches ,Provenance Private collection Miami, acquired by the present owner in 2008, Convention Center Miami Beach
Cutler Bay Auctions
May. 28, 2021
George Henry Durrie, Old Grist Mill, Poster on foamcore
Est: $90 - $150
Artist: George Henry Durrie, American (1820 - 1863) Title: Old Grist Mill Year: Medium: Poster on foamcore Image Size: Size: 18 x 26.5 in. (45.72 x 67.31 cm)
RoGallery
Apr. 13, 2021
George Henry Durrie (1820 - 1863) American Paintings
Est: $18,000 - $25,000
George Henry Durrie (1820 - 1863)" HUNTER IN WINTER " ,Oil / Canvas Signed G.H. Durrie , measures 14" x18 .5 " inches ,Provenance Private collection Miami, acquired by the present owner in 2008, Convention Center Miami Beach,
Cutler Bay Auctions
Feb. 27, 2021
GEORGE DURRIE (CT, 1820-1863)
Est: $10,000 - $15,000
A Pair: Ancient Farm Elm in Autumn & Fisherman in Summer Mountain Chasm, oil on board, oval format, autumn initialed 'D' lower right, summer signed 'Durrie' lower left, in matching rectangular Dutch gold panel frames, OS: 15 1/2" x 12 1/2", SS: 9 1/4" x 7". Very good condition.
Thomaston Place Auction Galleries
Jan. 12, 2021
George Henry Durrie (American, 1820-1863), Full length portrait of a young girl in a white dress with flowers thought to be Elizabeth O'Kane, 1842, oil on canvas, 42 3/4 x 28 1/2in (108.5 x 72.5cm); frame 49 1/4 x 35in (
Est: $5,000 - $7,000
George Henry Durrie (American, 1820-1863) Full length portrait of a young girl in a white dress with flowers thought to be Elizabeth O'Kane, 1842 oil on canvas laid to masonite, inscribed verso, Painted / by / GHD Nov. 1842, accompanied by original receipt from current owner. 42 3/4 x 28 1/2in (108.5 x 72.5cm); frame 49 1/4 x 35in (125 x 89cm)
Andrew Jones Auctions
Dec. 13, 2020
RARE GEORGE DURRIE PAINTING NEW ENGLAND WINTER
Est: $10,000 - $20,000
DURRIE, George Henry, (American, 1820-1863): Rural New England Winter Scene with Log Cabin, Barn, Cows, Horses and Figures, Oil/Canvas, 8" x 10", signed lower left, foliate motif relief carved and gilded frame, 11.25" x 13.25". Durrie's work is in National Portrait Gallery. This work strongly resembles the property depicted in Durrie's print for Currier and Ives in 1863 titled, "The Farm-Yard in Winter".
Burchard Galleries Inc
Jan. 12, 2020
Currier & Ives, "Winter in the Country" Lithograph
Est: $600 - $800
After Currier & Ives (American, 1857-1907) and George Henry Durrie (American,1820 1863). "Winter In The Country/The Old Grist Mill" - 1864, hand-colored lithograph on paper with publisher, copyright 1864, place of printing and titled to the lowermargin. Scene of a mid-19th century rural American grist mill. Original Best Fifty #12. New Best Fifty #21. Approx.22" x 29.75" (page).
Ahlers & Ogletree Inc.
Dec. 08, 2019
George Henry Durrie, Old Grist Mill, Poster on foamcore
Est: $15 - $45
Artist: George Henry Durrie, American (1820 - 1863) Title: Old Grist Mill Portfolio: Year: Medium: Poster on foamcore Edition: Image Size: Size: 18 x 26.5 in. (45.72 x 67.31 cm) Frame Size: Printer: Publisher: Reference:
RoGallery
Oct. 13, 2019
George Henry Durrie, Old Grist Mill, Poster on foamcore
Est: $25 - $45
Artist: George Henry Durrie (1820 - 1863) Title: Old Grist Mill Year: Medium: Poster on foamcore Size: 18 x 26.5 in. (45.72 x 67.31 cm)
RoGallery
May. 21, 2019
GEORGE HENRY DURRIE | Loading Ox Sledge Near Skating Pond, View of New Haven
Est: $150,000 - $250,000
oil on canvas
Sotheby's
Nov. 20, 2018
George Henry Durrie (1820-1863) - Miles to Salem
Est: $100,000 - $150,000
George Henry Durrie (1820-1863) Miles to Salem oil on board 12 x 20 in. (30.5 x 50.8 cm.)
Christie's
Nov. 17, 2018
ATTRIBUTED TO GEORGE HENRY DURRIE, Connecticut, 1820-1863, A mother and child walking down a snow-covered path, Oil on canvas, 26" x...
Est: $10,000 - $15,000
ATTRIBUTED TO GEORGE HENRY DURRIE Connecticut, 1820-1863 A mother and child walking down a snow-covered path toward a homestead. Unsigned. Oil on canvas, 26" x 36". Framed 34" x 45".
Eldred's
Nov. 16, 2018
GEORGE HENRY DURRIE | Hunter in Winter Wood
Est: $300,000 - $500,000
oil on canvas
Sotheby's
Oct. 28, 2018
George Durrie (Connecticut, 1820 - 1863)
Est: $10,000 - $15,000
George Durrie (Connecticut, 1820 - 1863) Oil on canvas laid on board painting of a winter vista with figures. Signed and dated lower left. Sight Size: 17 x 29 in. Overall Size: 25 x 37 in. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, George Durrie was known as the "snowman" because of the many winter scenes he painted. He lived most of his life in New Haven and earned a reputation for rural landscape scenes, especially snow scenes, which he introduced as subject matter in American painting. He began the study of art in New Haven in 1839 with portraitist Nathaniel Jocelyn, and traveled about the Connecticut and New Jersey countryside filling commissions. He also painted still lifes, genre, and scenes from Shakespeare. He is credited with making the discovery that farm landscape scenes are more appealing when they appear to be covered with snow, hence the introduction of the "snowscene" into American painting. His paintings emphasized bleak, snowy wintry scenes of New England.
Helmuth Stone
Oct. 14, 2018
George Henry Durrie (American, 1820-1863), "Still Life of Fruit with a Fly"
Est: $2,000 - $4,000
George Henry Durrie (American, 1820-1863) "Still Life of Fruit with a Fly" oil on board signed en verso. Period giltwood frame. 8" x 13", framed 19-1/2" x 23-3/8" Provenance: Claudia Heath Fine Art, Charlotte, North Carolina.
New Orleans Auction Galleries
Jul. 19, 2018
19TH CENTURY DURRIE RURAL WINTER LANDSCAPE PRINT
Est: $10 - $50
George Henry Durrie (1820-1863) was an American artist whose rural winter scenes became popular when reproduced as lithographic prints by Currier and Ives. His work is on view at Smithsonian, White House, De Young and Berkshire museums. Title of work: "Winter in the Country". Print measurements are 12 by 17 inches framed. In good condition with foxing and some discoloration along the borders.
Affiliated Auctions & Realty LLC
Jul. 01, 2018
George Durrie (Connecticut, 1820 - 1863)
Est: $20,000 - $25,000
George Durrie (Connecticut, 1820 - 1863) Oil on canvas laid on board painting of a winter vista with figures. Signed and dated lower left. Sight Size: 17 x 29 in. Overall Size: 25 x 37 in. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, George Durrie was known as the "snowman" because of the many winter scenes he painted. He lived most of his life in New Haven and earned a reputation for rural landscape scenes, especially snow scenes, which he introduced as subject matter in American painting. He began the study of art in New Haven in 1839 with portraitist Nathaniel Jocelyn, and traveled about the Connecticut and New Jersey countryside filling commissions. He also painted still lifes, genre, and scenes from Shakespeare. He is credited with making the discovery that farm landscape scenes are more appealing when they appear to be covered with snow, hence the introduction of the "snowscene" into American painting. His paintings emphasized bleak, snowy wintry scenes of New England.
Helmuth Stone
May. 17, 2018
19TH CENTURY DURRIE RURAL WINTER LANDSCAPE PRINT
Est: $60 - $160
George Henry Durrie (1820-1863) was an American artist whose rural winter scenes became popular when reproduced as lithographic prints by Currier and Ives. His work is on view at Smithsonian, White House, De Young and Berkshire museums. Title of work: "Winter in the Country". Print measurements are 12 by 17 inches framed. In good condition with foxing and some discoloration along the borders.
Affiliated Auctions & Realty LLC
Jan. 21, 2018
George Durrie (Connecticut, 1820 - 1863)
Est: $20,000 - $25,000
George Durrie (Connecticut, 1820 - 1863) Oil on canvas laid on board painting of a winter vista with figures. Signed and dated lower left. Sight Size: 17 x 29 in. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, George Durrie was known as the "snowman" because of the many winter scenes he painted. He lived most of his life in New Haven and earned a reputation for rural landscape scenes, especially snow scenes, which he introduced as subject matter in American painting. He began the study of art in New Haven in 1839 with portraitist Nathaniel Jocelyn, and traveled about the Connecticut and New Jersey countryside filling commissions. He also painted still lifes, genre, and scenes from Shakespeare. He is credited with making the discovery that farm landscape scenes are more appealing when they appear to be covered with snow, hence the introduction of the "snowscene" into American painting. His paintings emphasized bleak, snowy wintry scenes of New England. At the same time, he was creating snowscenes in the 1860s, Currier and Ives were marketing hand-colored lithographs, and his landscapes matched their formula for pleasant, quiet country motifs. These works brought both him and Currier and Ives much success, and after his death in 1863, they continued to use his paintings for lithographs. Among his most popular prints were Cider Making, Winter in the Country, Getting Ice and Winter Morning.
Sarasota Estate Auction
Nov. 03, 2017
GEORGE HENRY DURRIE (AMERICAN, 1820-1863) WINTER IN THE COUNTRY, A COLD MORNING,
Est: $300,000 - $500,000
George Henry Durrie (American, 1820-1863) Winter in the Country, A Cold Morning, circa 1863 Oil on canvas 26 x 36 inches (66.0 x 91.4 cm) PROVENANCE: Private collection, Massachusetts; A New England institution, gift from the above, 1940; Richard York Gallery, New York, 1989; The Honorable Paul H. Buchanan, Jr., acquired from the above, 1989; Heritage Auctions, Dallas, June 10, 2009, lot 77012; Acquired by the present owner from the above. George Henry Durrie, a lifelong resident of New Haven, Connecticut, is best-known today for winter scenes romanticizing cozy seasonal pleasures in the country, although he also painted summer landscapes, portraits, still lifes and a few narratives. Largely self-taught, he worked intermittently with the New Haven portrait painter and engraver Nathaniel Jocelyn (1796-1881) from 1839 to 1841. In the early 1840s, he traveled quite extensively in search of portrait work, which was his first specialty. Around the middle of the decade, however, intensely inspired by the work of Thomas Cole, Durrie began concentrating instead upon painting the Connecticut landscape, both around New Haven and Hartford. Although he shared many interests with the Hudson River painters Durrie placed more emphasis on genre elements, concentrating heavily on detail and domestic contentment as opposed to the more theatrical grandeur of someone like Frederic Church. This can be seen in the present work, and in his Returning to the Farm of 1861, a well-known painting from the same period in the New York Historical Society collection, which also depicts a farmer bringing home a sled-load of logs. In both paintings, the snow covered ground and thick cloud cover provide the dominant grayish tonality, against which bare trees and farmyard details stand out insistently. A heavy atmosphere obscures the clarity of distant hills, though as a rule, his winter scenes are never bleak but rather filled with light and activity, as seen in the present painting. Issued in the 1860s as Currier and Ives prints, ten of Durrie's winter scenes found particularly widespread popularity and inspired imitation. Although this painting is undated, its attribution to George Henry Durrie has been fully endorsed by Durrie expert, Dr. Martha Hutson-Saxton, who had the opportunity to examine it firsthand in 1989 when it emerged on the art market. She noted in private correspondence: "I was very impressed with the painting, Winter in the Country, A Cold Morning by George Henry Durrie (1820-1863). This version with the ox sledge, 26 x 36 inches, is an exceptionally fine work. Durrie was developing this composition at the end of his life in 1863. The painting was most likely in his studio at his death, which would explain the lack of signature. At age forty-three, Durrie was painting at the height of his stylistic development. Winter in the Country, A Cold Morning is one of his best contributions to native winter landscape painting in the nineteenth century." In recent correspondence with Heritage, Dr. Hutson-Saxton noted that Durrie regularly produced versions of the compositions he particularly liked or found to be commercially successful, and that Winter in the Country, A Cold Morning was one of these. She noted that this composition in this 26" by 36" canvas size first appeared in 1861 with a man walking up the road instead of the ox sledge (see M.Y. Hutson, George Henry Durrie (1820-1863). American Winter Landscapist: Renowned Through Currier and Ives, 1978, fig. 185, p. 173, as with Hirschl and Adler Galleries, New York). That painting was lithographed by Currier and Ives in 1864 (see Hutson, fig. 183). Durrie proceeded to paint the composition several times in this size between 1861 and 1863, and in smaller versions as well - some signed and some unsigned. In all of them Durrie included the bright yellow house with green shutters, the gray barns and outbuildings, a smattering of chickens, and the towering bare tree with its multiple highlights and its branches flecked with snow against a patchy dark-bright sky. That trademark motif is painted with tremendous confidence - and obvious relish - in the present work. We are grateful to Dr. Martha Hutson-Saxton for her scholarly generosity and for her permission to quote from her 1989 correspondence in this catalogue note. HID04901242017
Heritage Auctions
Sep. 16, 2017
Aft. George H Durrie O/C Winter Landscape Painting
Est: $250 - $400
UNITED STATES, CIRCA 1900 An oil on canvas winter landscape painting in the style of realist George Henry Durrie (1820-1863). The work depicts a yellow sided home with a billowing brick chimney and off set farmhouse with a mountainous background. A snow covered path in the foreground acts as an entryway into the composition with two figures seen walking in the distant middle ground. The painting is unsigned.
Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers
Jul. 06, 2017
GEORGE HENRY DURRIE, 1820 - 1863 | View of East rock, New Haven, Connecticut
Est: $18,000 - $24,000
oil on canvas signed ' G.H. Durrie' and dated ' 1849' (lower center)
Sotheby's