Major Art Discovery: Alice Neel Portrait Leads Alderfer Auction’s Fine Art Auction

Alderfer Auction of Hatfield, PA, is honored to unveil an art discovery as the centerpiece of our upcoming December 10 Fine Art Auction: an unpublished, original oil portrait by one of the iconic American painters of the twentieth century, Alice Neel (1900–1984).

A Masterpiece Revealed: Dr. William Hanaway Jr.

·Estimate: $200,000 – $300,000

·Market Status: Never publicly exhibited or published—completely fresh to the market.

·Direct Lifelong Provenance: This exceptional canvas was presented directly by Alice Neel as a personal gift to Dr. Hanaway’s mother—her longtime close friend Nell Prince Hanaway. It has remained privately held within the sitter’s family line for decades until its consignment to Alderfer Auction.

In Dr. William Hanaway Jr., Neel renders the young scholar, future University of Pennsylvania professor, and championship sailor with extraordinary sensitivity and graphic clarity. Positioned before a rhythmic flotilla of stylized white sailboats set against luminous ocean blues, the composition masterfully weaves his intellectual poise with his passion for the sea. It stands as an intimate testament to Neel’s ability to merge personal affection with formal daring.

Special Preview Reception & Private Showings

We invite you to experience this extraordinary canvas and our full lineup of fine art highlights in person at our Hatfield gallery:

Evening Preview & Reception:

Thursday, December 3 | 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM

501 Fairgrounds Road, Hatfield, PA 19440

Join us for an evening featuring complimentary wine, craft beer, and savory refreshments. Our Fine Art Specialists will be available throughout the gallery to discuss the artwork, provenance, condition reports, and bidding strategies.

General Public Previews:

Monday, December 7th – Wednesday December 9th | 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

501 Fairgrounds Road, Hatfield, PA 19440

Private Showings & Confidential Consultations:

For collectors, institutional curators, and advisors seeking a dedicated, private viewing, our team welcomes one-on-one appointments. Please contact us directly to arrange your visit.

Two-Day Fine Arts Auction Schedule

Live bidding will be conducted online at alderferauction.com, with telephone and absentee bidding accommodated:

Day 1 — Fine Jewelry & Silver

Wednesday, December 9, 2026 | 10:00 AM EST

Day 2 — Fine Arts & Mid-Century Modern (Featuring Alice Neel)

Thursday, December 10, 2026 | 10:00 AM EST

Online bidding starts late November at alderferauction.com

To request a detailed condition report: email conditionreport@alderferauction.com, to book a private showing email christian@alderferauction.com.

Alice Neel: The Uncompromising "Collector of Souls"

Widely recognized today among the greatest portraitists in modern art history, Alice Neel was a singular, fierce visionary. Born in Pennsylvania and trained at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women (now Moore College of Art & Design), she boldly forged her path through the heart of the twentieth-century American art world.

During the mid-century decades—when Abstract Expressionism and Minimalism completely dominated critical tastes and galleries largely shunned figurative work—Neel remained unswervingly committed to representing the human figure. She rejected the flattering conventions of society portraiture, instead describing herself as a “collector of souls.” Whether painting friends, family, writers, civil rights leaders, or neighbors across Spanish Harlem and Manhattan, she captured the raw psychological reality and vital spirit of her era.

While long under-recognized by an art establishment that favored abstraction and sidelined female artists, Neel's genius gained widespread acclaim through major retrospectives at the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and premier cultural institutions worldwide. Today, her works command center stage in the permanent collections of MoMA, the Met, the Tate Modern, and leading private collections globally.

Read More:

Alice Neel And The Art Of Seeing: Why Her Portraits Continue To Resonate With Collectors And Museums

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