$8,610
American School, 19th Century Portrait of the Sloop Yacht DEFYER Sailing in New York Bay. Unsigned, attributed to Mary E. Yorke. Oil on canvas, 20 1/2 x 24 in., in original gilt-gesso frame, further framed under glass. Condition: Very good. Provenance: By family descent of John Hohorst, a sailmaker in Brooklyn, New York, who owned the yacht jointly with his brother Louis (Louie) Hohorst, a shipyard worker. Note: A small account book kept by John Hohorst accompanies the painting. It notes the purchase of the sloop yacht Defyer on April 3, 1896 from H. J. Potter per A.P. Seripture of New York City. It was formerly named the Rob Roy. It was purchased by John and his brother Louis (Louie) Hohorst, of Brooklyn, New York, for $360.00. Part of Louie's share was in exchange for his watch which was valued at $33.00. The sloop was later sold to the Tuxedo Boat Club in 1901 for $250.00. Louie was given his watch back,"...and everything is squared out of his $88.19 investment." The account book lists in great detail the expenditures these two men paid to refurbish the vessel. It also has detailed measurements of the craft. Also listed is an account of John's horseracing bets for the years 1902-03. Mary E. Yorke was the widow of artist William G. Yorke, with whom she had collaborated. She lived across the street from the Hohorsts, who worked at Van Brunt Street in Brooklyn. Mary painted two portraits of the Defyer for the Hohorst brothers, of which this is one.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2014-10-26
