On Sunday, October 21, Turner Auctions + Appraisals is very pleased to present The Attic Sale, showcasing the final auction of the personal collection of John Pence, supplemented by works from his acclaimed gallery in San Francisco, which closed in 2017 when Mr. Pence retired. The focus of Mr. Pence’s own assemblage and his gallery has been on academic realists, abstract art, and significant works that inspired them.

Featuring artists from the 19th and 20th centuries, this sale offers over 260 lots of diverse subject matter – works in oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, pencil, ink, and mixed media; as well as posters, etchings, lithographs, sculpture and art pottery. Artists from the 19th century include Raymond Nott, Jacques Maroger, Walter Clark, Robert Hallowell, and Frank Herrmann. Works from the 20th century were created by Douglas Fenn Wilson, Jason Gaillard, Donald Jurney, Gregory Hull, Farre Harada, Will Wilson, Robert Maione, Robert LaVigne, Michael Bergt, John Koenig, Daniel Phill, Steve Armstrong, Gary Viviano and Eric Goulder, among others. Women artists represented in the auction include Mary Foote, Iola Lorie Benton, Marguerite Takvorian-Holmes, Maria Alquilar and Judith Clancy.

From Mr. Pence’s personal library are numerous reference materials, including books on art and artists, catalogues raisonnés, coffee table books, and diverse auction catalogs. Among several items of decorative arts are an African drum, a Japanese fireplace hook, and Gold Rush bottles.

John Pence was founder and owner of the largest art gallery in San Francisco, which was also one of the premier academic realist galleries in the U.S. He retired in 2017 from his eponymous firm after 44 years in business. Now, as Mr. Pence figuratively clears out his attic, the resulting sale means his noteworthy collection of artworks by well-known artists and reference materials are available at exceptional prices to tempt savvy buyers.