Thursday's Top Lots: American Art & Contemporary Art

Last week's American Art / Contemporary Art auction resulted in new records and strong prices all around, with both sections bringing strong prices. The top lot was Robert Gwathmey's excellent Prologue II, a large oil on canvas that sold for $72,000, an record price for the artist at auction. Prologue II and his Southern Farmer, which went for $43,200, were the top two lots in the American Art portion of the sale.

Robert Gwathmey, Prologue II, oil on canvas, 1962.

Wayne Thiebaud's Blighted Area is the earliest work by the artist to ever come to auction. The piece - made before Thiebaud started painting the vibrant candy for which he is known - was painted circa 1955 and brought $45,600, the top lot among the Contemporary Art.

Wayne Thiebaud, Blighted Area, oil on board, circa 1955.

Another major item was a group of drawings by Robert Mangold. Arc Studies: 4 Drawings, 1974, color pencil drawings on paper which explore material, shape, line and color, sold for $31,200.

Robert Mangold, Arc Studies: 4 Drawings, color pencil on paper, 1974.