Shannon's to auction masterpiece by John White Alexander (1856-1915), one of America's most celebrated artists, April 30

MILFORD, Conn. - April 16, 2026 - PRLog -- Shannon's announced their Spring Fine Art Auction scheduled for Thursday, April 30th at 6pm Eastern Time. The auction will feature over 150 lots of quality paintings, drawings, prints, and sculpture, beginning promptly at 6pm Eastern Time.

With an emphasis on quality American art and fresh-to-the-market offerings, the Shannon's spring sale will be a treasure trove of unique and exciting offerings. Bidding will be available on shannons.com, through their mobile app, by telephone, or by absentee. All of the works will be available for preview at their Milford, Connecticut, gallery.

A grandiose composition by John White Alexander, titled Her Birthday (1913), towers at almost 7 feet tall. Done late in his career, the work is a detailed example of the artist's mature style, picturing three vignettes of women arranging a vase of flowers. This piece is being offered at an estimated price of $300,000-$500,000.

In addition to the Alexander, other Gilded Age portraiture includes a William Merritt Chase of Miss Mary Shepherd Lukens, titled Lady with a Rose. Offered at $80,000-$120,000, this large-format, 48 inch by 36 inch canvas depicts a woman in a ruffled white dress holding a pink rose. Chase won a prestigious Temple Gold Medal for this work when he exhibited it at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 1901.

A rare Victorian sculpture bust of Beatrice Cenci by Harriet Hosmer will be included at an estimate of $30,000-$50,000. Hosmer became the first professional American female sculptor of the 19th Century. Most of her works are in museum collections, including a celebrated full-length sculpture of the same subject. Of her work, Susan B. Anthony commented, "Harriet Hosmer has done more to ennoble and elevate women than she possibly could have done by mere words."

American Impressionism is prominently featured in the auction, led by a double portrait of two women idling in the summer shade by Louis Ritman, which will be offered at $40,000-$60,000. The painting exhibits Ritman's skill at depicting a favored Impressionist motif of figures in dappled sunlight and shadow.

Regular sale updates are posted on shannons.com, and the full catalog of the sale is available online now. Printed catalogs are available for order by contacting the gallery. For the full details of the auction, please visit www.shannons.com or contact the gallery by phone at 203-877-1711 or via email at info@shannons.com.