On May 16, Heritage Auctions continued to prove its strength in the American Art category with back-to-back curated events that together netted $12.18 million. The American Art auction, anchored by significant works by Norman Rockwell, Maurice Sendak and Ernie Barnes, saw just over 40 lots go before nearly 500 bidders to land at $5.105 million. Just following it, Heritages second session of property from the BSA Settlement Trust, led by works by Rockwell, Dean Cornwell and Joseph Csatari, saw just over 180 lots hit the block in front of 663 bidders to bring $7.08 million. The first saw new auction records for Charles Wysocki, Auldwin Schomberg, Peter Fillerup, James Lewicki, Bill Morrison and Jeff Segler. A high profile record was set for a work by Maurice Sendak, for his original and first drawing for 1963s Where the Wild Things Are, which sold for nearly twice Sendaks previous record and hit $625,000. The two sessions also saw the solid sales of 13 important Norman Rockwell paintings, including his 1932 Saturday Evening Post cover art Marionettes, which sold for $906,250; his 1972 painting for a Brown & Bigelow calendar painting Cant Wait, sold for $1.310 million; and his 1958 Brown & Bigelow artwork Mighty Proud,realized $1.125 million. A spectacular 1935 Saturday Evening Postcover by Rockwells peerJoseph Christian Leyendecker titled Diving Insold for $325,000. The energy was undeniable from the moment the first lot opened, said Aviva Lehmann, Heritages senior vice president of American Art. What we saw on Friday was genuine enthusiasm from bidders who were deeply engaged, well-informed and ready to compete. The strong results across both auctions reflect not just the strength of this category for Heritage but also a real passion for the stories these works tell. It was a thrilling day for American Art. Works by painting master and former professional athlete Ernie Barnes did well with the sale of seven of his prime paintings and drawings, including a handful from the sports-themed collection ofJohn Mecom Jr., the one-time owner of the NFLs New Orleans Saints. Barnes Sandlot Saints(1983), with its depiction of an informal and joyous football game thats broken out in an abandoned city lot, sold for $450,000; his Opening Ceremonies(1984), with its panorama of communal elation at the start of the Olympic Summer Games, sold for $237,500; and his Anchor Leg(1983), which captures the moment of a group of relay-race sprinters last explosive burst across the line, sold for $225,000. Aside from the new Sendak record, the artist records set included Peter Fillerups 1984 bronze figure Trail to Manhoodbringing $175,000;Charles Wysockis oil-on-canvas New England Skating Party at $112,500; and Auldwin Thomas Schombergs bronze baseball figure Right Field Bleachers selling for $2,187. A1960 Saturday Evening Post coverbyJames Lewicki set a new record for the artist at $3,250; a mural-like, acrylic-on-canvas work by Bill Morrison titled A Century of Values 1910-2010sold for $23,750; and a 1984 Boy Scout fieldbook cover by Jeff W. Segler took that artists auction record to $6,875. American art has always been the beating heart of our nations story, and its an extraordinary privilege to bring together such a dynamic, narrative-rich collection for our May 16 auctions, explained Lehmann. Friday was a tribute to the artists who have captured our collective dreams, struggles and triumphs with honesty and beauty. We were honored to present a selection that feels both timeless and urgently alive. The session of property from the BSA Settlement Trust was highlighted by Rockwells celebrated Scouting images, and proceeds support survivors of childhood sexual abuse within the Boy Scouts of America. For more information, visit www.HA.com.