Library's Hassam painting may be offered at auction

7 April 2011

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"Summer Afternoon, Isle of Shoals" by Frederick Childe Hassam in the collection of Blasco Library, Erie Co., Penn.

(ROB ENGELHARDT/ ERIE TIMES-NEWS)

A task force has recommended that the Blasco Library in Erie County, Penn., sell its painting "Summer Afternoon, Isle of Shoals,'' by Frederic Childe Hassam, to fund an endowment for library collections.

Christie's has provided an estimate of $2.5 to $3.5 million for the work which may go to the auction block this fall in New York.

The library's art collection, which consists of donations, has also been recommended to be given to the Erie Art Museum.

A New York City art dealer spotted the Hassam last summer and wrote a letter to the city councilman suggesting that he could broker a sale in the $5 million range, according to GoErie.com.

Read more at GoErie

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