Untouched Joseph Henry Sharp Firelight Painting Surfaces in Cincinnati
Accompanied by a trove of correspondence from the artist to the eventual owner
The artist wrote: “This picture is worth twice as much as we agreed on…”
CINCINNATI (September 5, 2024) – A large and pristine firelight painting by Joseph Henry Sharp titled “Young Medicine Man of Taos” will go to auction at Caza Sikes on September 25, 2024 in Cincinnati.
Privately held since the day it was received via stagecoach, the oil on canvas work presents largely in the same condition as the day it was painted, thanks to express instructions by the artist himself for the framer to house the painting behind glass.
The work remains in the original frame, is void of any restoration, and is accompanied by a cache of letters from Sharp to the recipient of the painting, Mr. Herbert Dinkelaker, who commissioned the work directly from artist after seeing a similar one in the artist’s studio that was already sold to another collector.
In Sharp’s own words: “I think both (sic) in particular were much disappointed in not getting the firelight painting of “The Medicine Man” (Sold to another). The picture sold for full price $1200. Now if they will give me some sort of encouragement I will make a fine firelight this summer, with lots of glow and color like the Medicine Man, and submit to them individually instead of thru the gallery and exhibition…”
In addition to the aforementioned firelight painting are two other works by Sharp, including a landscape with several tipis titled “Custer Battle Field” and an earlier work titled “Gold’s Indian Relic Store, Santa Fe.” All three paintings descended in the same family, along with a number of other Golden Age of Cincinnati paintings by artists such as Rettig, Nourse, Blum, Volkert, and so on.
These items, along with roughly 250 other lots of fine and modern art will be auctioned on September 25 by Cincinnati auction house Caza Sikes. Bidders may bid online, on the phone or by absentee. No in-person bidding. Buyers may preview any lot by contacting Caza Sikes at 513.818.9527 or [email protected].
Phone Bid Form
See Catalog Entry
