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John Whorf, ‘Approaching the Finish’, 1926

John Whorf

American, 1903–1959

702 Followers

Watercolorist John Whorf’s paintings recall the work of John Singer Sargent and Frank Weston Benson. Whorf worked spontaneously and prolifically, making hundreds of landscape paintings of the New England seasons. A self-described conservative who despised abstraction, Whorf, was given his first solo exhibition at the Grace Horne Gallery in Boston when he was 21. Known during his lifetime as one of the greatest living watercolorists, Whorf was a resident of Provincetown, Massachusetts, where he painted many scenes of the Provincetown coast.

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Auction Results

Auction Results

Past Auctions

736 results

watercolor on paper

Jul 29, 2024 • Bonhams

watercolor on paper

American Art Online

The Sloop Catherine, 1927

watercolor, gouache and graphite on paper laid down on board

Jul 29, 2024 • Bonhams

The Sloop Catherine, 1927

watercolor, gouache and graphite on paper laid down on board

American Art Online

Rocks and Rolling Surf

watercolor and gouache on paper

54.61 x 75.57 cm

Sep 19, 2023 • Bonhams

Rocks and Rolling Surf

watercolor and gouache on paper

54.61 x 75.57 cm

American Art | Bonhams Skinner

Mountain Landscape, Spring, 1948

watercolor on paper

40.64 x 30.48 cm

Sep 21, 2022 • Bonhams

Mountain Landscape, Spring, 1948

watercolor on paper

40.64 x 30.48 cm

American Works of Art

Brooklyn Navy Yard

gouache and watercolor on paper

56.52 x 76.2 cm

Feb 17, 2021 • Sotheby's

Brooklyn Navy Yard

gouache and watercolor on paper

56.52 x 76.2 cm

Two Centuries: American Art

A Light on the Sea

watercolor and pencil on paper

Nov 24, 2020 • Bonhams

A Light on the Sea

watercolor and pencil on paper

Reclining Figure

watercolor and pencil on paper

Nov 24, 2020 • Bonhams

Reclining Figure

watercolor and pencil on paper

Backyards, 1937

watercolor and charcoal on paper

Jul 29, 2020 • Bonhams

Backyards, 1937

watercolor and charcoal on paper

Bonhams • New York

Rescue at Sea; Spring landscape with houses (double-sided)

watercolor and graphite on paper

38.74 x 55.88 cm

Aug 6, 2019 • Bonhams

Rescue at Sea; Spring landscape with houses (double-sided)

watercolor and graphite on paper

38.74 x 55.88 cm

California and Western Paintings and Sculpture

Mount Mansfield, Vermont

Watercolor on paper

Jun 13, 2019 • Swann

Mount Mansfield, Vermont

Watercolor on paper

Swann • New York

Lighthouse (recto) and Harbor Scene (verso)

watercolor, gouache and pencil on paper

Dec 11, 2018 • Christie's

Lighthouse (recto) and Harbor Scene (verso)

watercolor, gouache and pencil on paper

Christie's • New York

BIRCHES, WINTER AFTERNOON, 1952

38.735 x 53.34 cm

Mar 28, 2018 • Sotheby's

BIRCHES, WINTER AFTERNOON, 1952

38.735 x 53.34 cm

Sotheby's • New York

Mar 28, 2018 • Sotheby's

IN THE HARBOR

Sotheby's • New York

September Afternoon ,

36.83 x 55.25 cm

Feb 9, 2018 • James D. Julia Auctioneers

September Afternoon ,

36.83 x 55.25 cm

James D. Julia Auctioneers • Fairfield

February Fine Art, Asian and Antiques Auction

Railroad Yard ,

39.37 x 55.88 cm

Feb 9, 2018 • James D. Julia Auctioneers

Railroad Yard ,

39.37 x 55.88 cm

James D. Julia Auctioneers • Fairfield

February Fine Art, Asian and Antiques Auction

Study for a Woman Reading ,

45.72 x 55.88 cm

Feb 1, 2018 • Woodshed Art Auctions

Study for a Woman Reading ,

45.72 x 55.88 cm

Woodshed Art Auctions • Franklin

Private Art Collections and Estates Discoveries

Harbor Scene with Stern of Boat and Two Sailors ,

watercolor on paper

Jan 26, 2018 • Skinner

Harbor Scene with Stern of Boat and Two Sailors ,

watercolor on paper

Skinner • Boston

Fine paintings and Sculpture

Fishermen Hauling Lines on a Dock ,

watercolor on paper

Jan 26, 2018 • Skinner

Fishermen Hauling Lines on a Dock ,

watercolor on paper

Skinner • Boston

Fine paintings and Sculpture

The pale sun, back road ,

watercolor on paper

37.46 x 54.28 cm

Jan 18, 2018 • Shannon's Fine Art Auctioneers

The pale sun, back road ,

watercolor on paper

37.46 x 54.28 cm

Shannon's Fine Art Auctioneers • Milford

Fine Art Auction- Online

White sails Barbados ,

Watercolor/gouache

53.98 x 69.22 cm

Sep 23, 2017 • Cottone Auctions

White sails Barbados ,

Watercolor/gouache

53.98 x 69.22 cm

Cottone Auctions • Geneseo

Fine Art, Antiques & Modern Design

Winter in Paris ,

Watercolor on paper

54.61 x 74.93 cm

Sep 22, 2017 • Heritage Auctions

Winter in Paris ,

Watercolor on paper

54.61 x 74.93 cm

Heritage Auctions • Dallas

Fine & Decorative Arts Auction featuring The Gentleman Collector Signature Auction

Bazaar of the Potters at Marrakesh ,

55.88 x 76.2 cm

Sep 19, 2017 • Susanin's

Bazaar of the Potters at Marrakesh ,

55.88 x 76.2 cm

Susanin's • Chicago

Three Masted Schooner Off Provincetown ,

35.56 x 53.34 cm

Aug 18, 2017 • James D. Julia Auctioneers

Three Masted Schooner Off Provincetown ,

35.56 x 53.34 cm

James D. Julia Auctioneers • Fairfield

Summer Fine Art, Asian & Antiques Auction

Reeling In The Big One ,

76.2 x 55.88 cm

Aug 18, 2017 • James D. Julia Auctioneers

Reeling In The Big One ,

76.2 x 55.88 cm

James D. Julia Auctioneers • Fairfield

Summer Fine Art, Asian & Antiques Auction

Mallards Rising ,

watercolor on paper

37.46 x 53.34 cm

Aug 18, 2017 • James D. Julia Auctioneers

Mallards Rising ,

watercolor on paper

37.46 x 53.34 cm

James D. Julia Auctioneers • Fairfield

Summer Fine Art, Asian & Antiques Auction

watercolor and gouache on paper

31.75 x 46.99 cm

Aug 18, 2017 • James D. Julia Auctioneers

The Red Barn ,

watercolor and gouache on paper

31.75 x 46.99 cm

James D. Julia Auctioneers • Fairfield

Summer Fine Art, Asian & Antiques Auction

Coastal Fish Shacks ,

30.48 x 71.12 cm

Aug 18, 2017 • James D. Julia Auctioneers

Coastal Fish Shacks ,

30.48 x 71.12 cm

James D. Julia Auctioneers • Fairfield

Summer Fine Art, Asian & Antiques Auction

A house in a winter landscape ,

watercolor on paper

53.34 x 74.3 cm

Aug 2, 2017 • Eldred's Auctioneers

A house in a winter landscape ,

watercolor on paper

53.34 x 74.3 cm

Eldred's Auctioneers • East Dennis

Americana & Paintings

watercolor on paper

38.1 x 55.88 cm

Aug 2, 2017 • Eldred's Auctioneers

watercolor on paper

38.1 x 55.88 cm

Eldred's Auctioneers • East Dennis

Americana & Paintings

House in the dunes, springtime ,

watercolor on paper

35.56 x 48.26 cm

Aug 2, 2017 • Eldred's Auctioneers

House in the dunes, springtime ,

watercolor on paper

35.56 x 48.26 cm

Eldred's Auctioneers • East Dennis

Americana & Paintings

Early Morning, East Harbor ,

36.2 x 53.98 cm

Jul 27, 2017 • Copley Fine Art Auctions

Early Morning, East Harbor ,

36.2 x 53.98 cm

Copley Fine Art Auctions • Boston

The Sporting Sale 2017

Blizzard, Park Street ,

39.37 x 54.61 cm

Jun 11, 2017 • Grogan & Company

Blizzard, Park Street ,

39.37 x 54.61 cm

Grogan & Company • Dedham

The June Auction

Harbor with Steamships ,

50.8 x 66.04 cm

Jun 11, 2017 • Grogan & Company

Harbor with Steamships ,

50.8 x 66.04 cm

Grogan & Company • Dedham

The June Auction

watercolor on heavy paper

50.8 x 65.41 cm

Jun 4, 2017 • Freeman's

watercolor on heavy paper

50.8 x 65.41 cm

Freeman's • Philadelphia

American Art & Pennsylvania Impressionists

River men, 1945

Watercolor on paper

May 19, 2017 • Skinner

River men, 1945

Watercolor on paper

Skinner • Boston

Fine Prints, Photographs, Paintings & Sculpture

Rain Copley Square, 1956

Watercolor on paper

May 19, 2017 • Skinner

Rain Copley Square, 1956

Watercolor on paper

Skinner • Boston

Fine Prints, Photographs, Paintings & Sculpture

Snowy farm; Nude by river ,

36.83 x 54.61 cm

Apr 15, 2017 • Bakker Auctions

Snowy farm; Nude by river ,

36.83 x 54.61 cm

Bakker Auctions • Provincetown

Annual Spring Fine Art Auction

Nasturtium still life ,

35.56 x 40.64 cm

Apr 15, 2017 • Bakker Auctions

Nasturtium still life ,

35.56 x 40.64 cm

Bakker Auctions • Provincetown

Annual Spring Fine Art Auction

Approaching storm ,

43.18 x 53.34 cm

Apr 15, 2017 • Bakker Auctions

Approaching storm ,

43.18 x 53.34 cm

Bakker Auctions • Provincetown

Annual Spring Fine Art Auction

WHITE BOATS IN THE SUN, BOYS FISHING

Apr 7, 2017 • Sotheby's

WHITE BOATS IN THE SUN, BOYS FISHING

Sotheby's • New York

Watercolor on paper

Apr 6, 2017 • Eldred's Auctioneers

Study of geese

Watercolor on paper

Eldred's Auctioneers • East Dennis

Spring Americana, Paintings and Maritime Art

mixed media, watercolor, chalk, charcoal on paper

38.1 x 55.25 cm

Mar 25, 2017 • Brunk Auctions

Winter Night ,

mixed media, watercolor, chalk, charcoal on paper

38.1 x 55.25 cm

Brunk Auctions • Asheville

Cruising, figures on a sailboat at sea

watercolor on paper under glass

Mar 21, 2017 • John Moran Auctioneers

Cruising, figures on a sailboat at sea

watercolor on paper under glass

John Moran Auctioneers • Inc

California & American Fine Art

Untitled (Figures Swimming at the Old Mill)

Mar 18, 2017 • Clars Auction Gallery

Untitled (Figures Swimming at the Old Mill)

Clars Auction Gallery • Oakland

Fine Art and Antiques

Birches in winter, White River Junction, VT

Feb 9, 2017 • James D. Julia Auctioneers

Birches in winter, White River Junction, VT

James D. Julia Auctioneers • Fairfield

Winter Fine Art, Asian & Antiques Auction

Watercolor on paper

Jan 27, 2017 • Skinner

Watercolor on paper

Skinner • Boston

American & European Works of Art

Untitled (Bedouin Women), 1920

watercolor on paper

Nov 5, 2016 • Rago Arts & Auction Center

Untitled (Bedouin Women), 1920

watercolor on paper

Rago Arts & Auction Center • Lambertville

19th/20th C. American/European Art

Oct 28, 2016 • Barridoff Galleries

Barridoff Galleries • Portland

International Fine Art

Rowers in a harbor

Oct 23, 2016 • Grogan & Company

Rowers in a harbor

Grogan & Company • Dedham

The October Auction

Queensboro Bridge

watercolor on paper

Oct 14, 2016 • Christie's

Queensboro Bridge

watercolor on paper

Christie's • New York

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