Leading RI Painter’s Work Scores Record Price at Sotheby’s Auction—1500% Increase
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Edward Bannister's "Palmer River" sold for just over $277,000 at a Sotheby's Auction last week. Photo: Wiki/Public Domain
The owner who sold it, Dan Mechnig, who had purchased “Palmer River” by Bannister in 1985, spoke with GoLocalProv about what it meant to own, and sell, the significant piece of American art.
Bannister spent much of his career in Providence and founded the Providence Art Club.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“It’s an incredible national story — you won’t find it anywhere in the world, and we have it right here in Providence,” said Mechnig, who had originally bought the painting for $17,500 in 1985.
Purchasing and Sharing a Piece of Rhode Island History
Mechnig spoke of his love of Bannister’s works, and especially how Bannister claimed First Prize in the Philadelphia Centennial in 1876 for his work “Under the Oaks.”
Judges were shocked the work was by a Black man.
“He’d go into all-white juries, and ask about ’number 54’ — and he’d say that’s my painting,” said Mechnig. “This was just decades after emancipation. Think of all that had happened. It was absolutely wonderful.”
Bannister became a founding member of the Providence Art Club, of which Mechnig served on the board — as well as President.
“I say Bannister was ‘the’ founder,” said Mechnig of the group that founded the club. “If you go in the green room and see Bannister’s silhouette behind the door, there is the number one underneath.”
“The club was founded by a group of artists that weren’t happy with the dealers, they wanted to promote their own art, and have the camaraderie of other artists,” he said. “The actual compact had sixteen founders with six women. That was a big thing back in the day.”
Mechnig acquired Bannister’s “Palmer River” in 1985 — where he said he had it for “one day” before being asked to loan it out.
“I get a call from a California museum, they said we realize you have the Palmer River. Word traveled quickly to the point it was scary,” said Mechnig. “They told me they were doing a ‘Hidden Heritage’ collection and wanted to borrow it. I didn’t know how long it would be.”
“I’ve always loved art. I talked to a few people, they said it wouldn’t hurt the painting, I talked with my wife Kathy, we figured it would expose people to Edward Bannister,” said Mechnig, noting the couple “hadn’t even hung it on the wall’ yet.
“They had it for four years,” said Mechnig of the California musuem.
Mechnig said of the 36 years he owned the painting, he had it in his possession “probably about half the time.”
According to Mechnig, the piece had been on display at the Whitney — and even the Clinton White House had called looking to see if they could purchase the painting.
“It sounded wonderful, to have a painting at the White House. And they made a very good offer — but not as good as last week,” said Mechnig, of the $277,000 the piece got at Sotheby’s.
Going to Auction
“I sent the painting down to [Sotheby’s] months ago. They try first to privately sell, and they do it very quietly,” said Mechnig. “They don’t expose the painting to too many people, maybe a half a dozen.”
“I said why don’t we let it go to auction and get some buzz because it’s a Bannister — he’s not just important in Rhode Island, but nationally,” said Mechnig.
“The highest price ever for a Bannister at auction was $75,000,” said Mechnig. “A lot of people questioned [the Palmer River’s] value being listed at $50,000 to $70,000. It was low, to attract a lot of buyers.”
“There’s not a lot of African-American art currently on the market, which probably drove this price so high,” said Mechnig. “One person called and said [Palmer River] is the best thing in the auction. I thought, gosh, there’s a Homer, Cassat, and that’s just a few.”
Mechnig said he was so nervous he couldn’t even watch the auction live.
“I don’t know who purchased it, I’m hoping an institution,” said Mechnig.
“I love art and good music, without that just take me to Swan Point,” said Mechnig, who told a story of his father coming to see some art in his home one time.
“He said this is very nice but you can’t eat it,” said Mechnig. “He was an immigrant from Germany, he came here in 1925 and they were starving.”
“Money didn’t mean much to him. It was about doing the right thing, which he instilled in me,” said Mechnig. “There’s just much more to life.”
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