|
Artist
|
Title | Thumbnail |
Notes old |
Media |
Signature status |
| Theodore Clement (T.C.) Steele |
Rainbow Tryst |
 |
---
This painting sold in our Fourth Annual Curated Sale of Historic Indiana and American Art. "Invaluable.com":https://www.invaluable.com/catalog/fd85ul6e46<br>
Recently conserved; recent frame We have some early provenance and recent history of this piece. |
Oil on canvas |
Signed Lower Right |
| Theodore Clement (T.C.) Steele |
On the Whitewater, Brookville |
 |
SOLD |
Oil on Canvas |
Signed Lower Right |
| Theodore Clement (T.C.) Steele |
Munich Landscape with Figures |
 |
Recent conservation; original frame recently restored and re-leafed. This painting has been in a private collection for the past seventy years.
|
Oil on Canvas |
Signed Lower Right |
| Theodore Clement (T.C.) Steele |
Melting Snow |
 |
SOLD
This work was featured in our 2nd Annual Curated Sale of Historic Indiana Art, April 8th, 2018 at the Indianapolis Art Center. |
Oil on Canvas |
Signed Lower Right |
| Theodore Clement (T.C.) Steele |
Landscape Study with Horses and Carriage |
 |
SOLD
Flawless condition, stable and with no in-painting. Recently cleaned and re-varnished. Housed in a hand-leafed, period reproduction frame.
SOLD
This painting was featured in our weekly email on 2/19/2016 with the following gallery comments:
T. C. Steele is the first name in historic Indiana art. Born in tiny Gosport, Indiana and raised in equally tiny Waveland, Indiana he showed an interest and aptitude in art at an early age. After local study he spent his early career in Indiana and Battle Creek, MI as a portraitist. He moved his family back to Indiana, to Indianapolis, in 1877 and the quality of his work caught the attention of Herman Lieber who helped arrange study at the Royal Academy in Munich. He ultimately returned from Germany in 1885, again locating in Indianapolis. His studies abroad and his natural ability synthesized into what would become his legendary talent for Impressionistic landscapes. While based in Indianapolis, he painted throughout the state (and even making two trips West). He eventually lit upon Brown County around 1900 and after several trips to those hills, about 40 miles south of Indianapolis, moved there permanently in 1907.
Today’s offering Landscape Study with Horses and Carriage is likely from his Brown County period. It’s unusual for its small size. Steele oils (which were essentially his only medium) tend to be large and finished works. Steele was a successful artist in his day and didn’t have to bother producing small, affordable paintings. And he didn’t. Rather than produced as a work to sell, this is a study or sketch (as noted on the piece, verso). And yes, he signed it. Maybe it was an impulsive act or given as a memento. They don’t talk so one can only ponder.
The old note on the back is tantalizing but tells us nothing definitive. It doesn’t appear to be in Steele’s hand -- why would Steele note ‘1910 (?)’. Finally, the signature is somewhat faint, trailing off into nothing. In casual conversation, it’s been speculated that the signature could be that of Selma Steele (his second wife) who was thought to have signed some canvases following his death. But there’s no estate stamp which is a ubiquitous presence on Steele paintings which come from the estate. Nothing on the panel phosphors under black light. Given this (particularly in relation to the signature), one would conclude is wasn’t signed posthumously and was in fact, by his hand.
The painting has been in the same Indiana family for three generations and comes now, fresh to market. It is in perfect condition and recently went through basic cleaning and re-varnishing. It’s housed in a hand-leafed period reproduction frame and ready to hang. A delightful and unique piece by the most important painter in Indiana history.
-Curt Churchman
|
Oil on Board |
Signed bottom right |
| Theodore Clement (T.C.) Steele |
House of the Singing Winds |
 |
---
This painting SOLD in our 3rd Annual Curated Sale of Historic Indiana Art.
Estate stamp, verso. Lightly cleaned. Likely-original frame, lightly cleaned.
|
Oil on Canvas |
Signed (lightly) lower right |
| Theodore Clement (T.C.) Steele |
Frosty Morning |
 |
SOLD
This work was featured in our 2nd Annual Curated Sale of Historic Indiana Art, April 8th, 2018 at the Indianapolis Art Center.
--
Painting underwent a re-lining some years ago. Housed in Lyman Brothers frame (likely not original). Painting was recently cleaned and restored.
—
Featured in our weekly email on 4/14/17 along with the following gallery comments:
T. C. Steele is the first name in historic Indiana art. He cemented that reputation by returning to his native Hoosier state in 1885 after studying abroad in Munich for five years. His training well-absorbed, he taught and worked out of Indianapolis for the next several years (with many summers spent in Brookeville and other destinations). In 1907 he found his spot and moved to Brown County permanently after many previous extended visits. Today’s piece, Frosty Morning, is from Steele’s later Brown County period. Very impressionistic and trademark Steele. Look at the detail in those ‘tonal’ hills in the backdrop. This painting is essentially fresh to market having come from a family in Northeastern Indiana where it has spent its last sixty years. It has been re-lined which probably occurred 30-40 years ago. This was left alone as it went through recent conservation and cleaning. Upon examination, the painting has on old H. L. Lieber tag on the stretcher bar. Perhaps the piece was originally sold by Lieber. The work, especially as framed, is impressively large. Seeking nice, large fireplace mantle to call home. |
Oil on Canvas |
Signed lower left |
| Theodore Clement (T.C.) Steele |
Frost in Early Winter (Talbott Place) |
 |
___
This painting SOLD in our Third Annual Curated Sale of Historic Indiana Art
Painting has been fully conserved. Housed in a recent, leafed antique reproduction frame.
|
Oil on canvas |
Signed lower left |
| Theodore Clement (T.C.) Steele |
Figures in the Woods |
 |
Housed in the original Lieber frame which was restored and re-leafed in 23K gold. |
Oil on Canvas |
Singed lower left |
| Theodore Clement (T.C.) Steele |
Clearing in the Woods |
 |
|
Oil on Canvas |
Unsigned (estate stamp, verso) |
| Theodore Clement (T.C.) Steele |
Brown County Summer Landscape |
 |
Oil on canvas, laid on board. Recently conserved; original frame, recently re-leafed.
---
This painting appeared in our Sixth Annual Curated Sale of Historic Indiana Art auction on Sunday April 3, 2022 in Indianapolis. |
Oil on Canvas |
Signed Lower Right |
| Theodore Clement (T.C.) Steele |
Brown County Summer Landscape |
 |
SOLD |
Signed Lower Right |
Signed Lower Right |
| Theodore Clement (T.C.) Steele |
Brown County Overlook |
 |
SOLD
This work was featured in our 2nd Annual Curated Sale of Historic Indiana Art, April 8th, 2018 at the Indianapolis Art Center.
|
Oil on Canvas |
Signed Lower Left |
| Theodore Clement (T.C.) Steele |
Brown County Lane |
 |
---
This painting appeared in our 3rd Annual Sale of Historic Indiana Art
Painting has been cleaned and conserved; no in-painting. Original hand-carved frame, re-leafed.
|
Oil on Canvas |
Signed Lower Right |
| Theodore Clement (T.C.) Steele |
Brown County Landscape |
 |
---
Appeared and sold in our Fifth Annual Curated Sale of Indiana Art auction, which took place in Indianapolis on 4/18/21. |
Oil on Canvas |
Signed Lower Right |
| Theodore Clement (T.C.) Steele |
A Country Lane (Brookville) |
 |
Cleaned, conserved and re-varnished; excellent condition. Housed in the original hand-carved frame (original finish, lightly restored). Dated 1901 below signature. Completely fresh and with provenance. |
Oil on canvas |
Signed lower left |
| Theodore Clement (T.C.) Steele |
Autumn Twilight of the Woods |
 |
(SOLD)
This painting was featured in our weekly email on 10/9/13 along with the following gallery comments:
We’re honored to be in the company of another T.C. Steele this art season. His stature in Indiana collecting circles can’t be overstated – he’s the native Hoosier artist against whom all others are measured. His output of American Impressionist paintings was both vast and of consistently high quality. Autumn Twilight of the Woods is completely fresh to market -- essentially a single-owner painting created in 1922. Showing a late autumn vista, Steele draws the eye back from the near trees to the mist (or water?) in the distant valley. This painting has Selma Steele’s 1926 estate stamp, verso and is housed in the original frame which bears some notation as per title and the original purchaser. It’s in flawless condition with no in-painting or disruption to the surface. The piece was recently put through a simple conservation and the original Lieber frame was lightly cleaned bringing the piece back to its original 1922 form.
-Curt Churchman |
Oil on Board |
Signed Lower Right |
| Jerry Smith |
Les Andelys Stroll |
 |
|
Oil on Board |
Signed Lower Left |
| Hallie Pace Prow |
Spring at Ketcham's Mill |
 |
Recently cleaned; original frame, recently refinished.
---
This painting was featured in our 8/12/2022 weekly newsletter,
"Hallie Prow was from Salem, IN and attended John Herron Art School. She married a Bloomington doctor and largely quit painting until his passing when she took it up again. It’s said that when T.C. Steele was resident on the IU campus late in his life, he would let Prow accompany him on painting days and help her with her work.
Today’s piece, Spring at Ketcham’s Mill is a nice example of her output. The Ketcham Mill property was somewhere south of Bloomington and north of Bedford and was a victim of arson in 1909. Placing this painting as c. 1938, one assumes she’s at the site of the mill which was long since gone. Light, airy and slightly naïve – everything a good Hallie Prow should be! Excellent condition, recently cleaned and housed in the original, carved frame."
|
Oil on Board |
Signed Lower Left |
| Dorothy M. Frantz |
Autumn Creek Bend |
 |
Recently Cleaned; Recent Frame. |
Oil on Canvas |
Signed Lower Left |
