Extraordinary Original Artwork Attributed to A.B. Frost Featured in Our November 2024 Premier Gun Auction

Mark your calendars for November 15th and 16th, 2024!

We are thrilled to announce a highlight of our upcoming November 2024 Premier Gun Auction: a remarkable collection of six original paintings, believed to be the work of renowned American artist A.B. Frost or one of his students. These extraordinary pieces, dating back to the early 1900s, offer a unique glimpse into American artistic and cultural history.

A Storied Provenance

These vintage artworks once graced the walls of a grand mansion in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The residence belonged to Frank M. Vandling, a prominent Postmaster General of the late 19th century. A contemporary newspaper article vividly describes the Vandling home:

“The walls [are] entirely covered by tapestry, and paintings of hunting scenes. The work was done by a well-known New York artist, and is complete in interest both from the beauty of execution and the excellence of subject. Several of the pictures are the spirited clever ones by Frost.”

Artistic Mastery

Each piece in this collection was masterfully painted on muslin tapestry wallpaper, showcasing hunting and animal scenes that epitomize the genteel sporting life of the East Coast during that era. The paintings were carefully extracted from the mansion before its demolition, preserving a unique slice of history.

About A.B. Frost

Arthur Burdett Frost (1851-1928), a Pennsylvania native, was celebrated for his illustrative works, particularly in capturing sporting scenes for Winchester. He worked with well-known publishers in New York, including Harper & Brothers, where he collaborated with illustrators such as Howard Pyle, E. W. Kemble, Frederic Remington, and C. S. Reinhart.

Frost’s illustrations appeared in prominent magazines like Harper’s Weekly, Punch, and Scribner’s. His passion for hunting, shooting, and golf frequently influenced his work. In recognition of his contributions to American art, Frost was posthumously inducted into the Society of Illustration Hall of Fame in 1985.

Unique Characteristics

Each painting in this collection varies in size and content, as they were originally separated by oak columns within the mansion. Due to this unique installation method, no artist signatures have been discovered. It’s speculated that signatures may have been placed at the bottom of the tapestries, subsequently concealed by ornamental tiger oak panels and trim, and potentially removed during the extraction process. This feature adds to their individual allure, charm, and historical significance.

A Rare Opportunity

Today, A.B. Frost’s works are highly sought after, with lithographs selling for hundreds to thousands of dollars. This auction presents a rare opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts to own a piece of American artistic heritage.

Join us on November 15th and 16th, 2024, for this extraordinary auction event. Don’t miss your chance to bid on these exceptional pieces of art history!

source https://www.richmondfirearms.com/extraordinary-original-artwork-attributed-to-a-b-frost-featured-in-our-november-2024-premier-gun-auction/