The Estate of Bartlett Burnap

• Auction of the Estate of Bartlett Burnap on May 15, 2024 Tops $2.4 Million!

• Carl Rungius' The Old Man of the Mountains Achieves $216,400

• Extensive Collection of Western Art, Sporting Art and Works by California Artists

• Assembled by Avid Sportsman and Collector Bartlett Burnap of Palm Beach, Florida, and Sun Valley, Idaho

NEW YORK, NY -- Competitive bidding at Doyle's May 15, 2024 auction of the Estate of Bartlett Burnap drove the sale total over $2.4 million, far surpassing the pre-sale estimate of $1,142,400-1,821,900. This extensive collection featured over 160 works of art, including exceptional examples of Western Art, Sporting Art and works by California artists. It was assembled by avid sportsman and collector Bartlett Burnap of Palm Beach, Florida, and Sun Valley, Idaho. Attracting collectors and sporting enthusiasts from coast to coast and overseas, the highly-anticipated auction followed a series of preview exhibitions in Doyle's regional galleries.

Carl Rungius
Highlighting the sale was The Old Man of the Mountains by Carl Rungius (1869-1959) that achieved $216,400, far over its $120,000-180,000 estimate. The German-born wildlife artist celebrated the beauty of North American landscapes and wildlife through his vivid paintings. His masterful portrayal of large animals, like the majestic bear in the present work, captured the essence of the wilderness with reverence.

William Wendt
The selection of works by California artist William Wendt (1865-1946) featured a 1920 view of the California Coast that more than doubled its $50,000-80,000 estimate, realizing $165,600. The German-born "dean of Southern California artists" is widely regarded as one of the most influential American artists of the early 20th century and the most important artist from the art colony of Laguna Beach, California. Read an essay on William Wendt & the California Landscape.

Rembrandt Bugatti
A canine bronze by Italian sculptor Rembrandt Bugatti (1884-1916), Braque Couche ou Grand Saint Germain from 1904 sold for $140,200, outperforming its estimate of $80,000-120,000. The work depicts Dash, the dog of Rene Dubois, who was an associate at the Hebrard gallery until 1909 and a friend and father figure to Bugatti. Bugatti’s sculptures reflect his profound connection to animals, conveying both their physical presence and inner spirit with skill and sensitivity.

The Estate of Bartlett Burnap offered a remarkable assemblage of works by plein air painters showcasing the beauty and diversity of the California landscape. Read essay on The California Impressionists 

A dramatic view of the Canyon de Chelly by the famed western landscape painter Edgar Payne realized $127,500. Read an essay on Edgar Payne & the Canyon de Chelly.

    "I lived a good life ... as good a life as I could possibly have had." -- Bartlett Burnap

Bartlett Burnap (1932-2022) was born in Los Angeles, California, to a family with deep roots in the American Northeast. Among his ancestors were colonial statesman and physician Josiah Bartlett (1729-1795) of New Hampshire, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Senator James Arkell (1829-1902) of upstate New York, an inventor and industrialist who was granted thirty-two patents for the manufacture of paper bags.

Bartlett’s father, Arkell “Doc” Burnap, a golf pro at the Los Angeles Country Club, died when Bartlett was six years old, and his mother, Mildred V. Weiler Burnap, died when he was fourteen. Now orphaned, Bartlett and his brother Arkell continued living in the family home under the care of a relative who relocated from the east coast. Bartlett was educated at the Harvard School for Boys in Los Angeles, now the co-ed Harvard-Westlake School, followed by the University of Southern California. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the United State Air Force and served in Japan and South Korea.

Early on, Barlett found financial success in venture capital. A group of friends from his high school days became lifelong fellow investors, sharing investment opportunities in small business start-ups. For several years in the 1970s, he relocated to London where he bought and sold precious metals before returning to California. For the rest of his life, he eagerly anticipated stays at Claridge's whenever he found himself in London.

In 1969, Bartlett married Hollywood film actress Eileen Wesson and had two children, Christiane and Ian. The couple divorced in 1978. In 1981, Bartlett married Candida Danielson, the daughter of a prosperous California rancher whose family had co-founded the International Harvester Corporation.

Bartlett grew up loving outdoor pursuits, and hunting was a lifelong passion. He traveled the world seeking new adventures: safaris in Africa, birding in Spain and Argentina, and stalking in Scotland. Days in the bush were followed by late night dinners trading stories of hunting trips from years past. At home, a canine hunting companion was at his side, first Jack Russell Terriers, and in later years, English Cocker Spaniels. His family foundation, established in the 1950s, made annual donations to such organizations as the World Wildlife Fund and other conservation causes.

Collecting was another lifelong passion. In the 1960s, Bartlett began to collect at galleries, antique shops and auctions both at home and during his travels. He was particularly interested in an object’s history, and he filled auction catalogues with meticulous notes detailing information about a piece.

A confident collector, Bartlett knew what he liked and what piqued his interest, resulting in a highly personal collection. Exploring the varied works in this exceptional collection offers the viewer an exciting journey through the remarkable and adventurous life of Bartlett Burnap.