Marjorie Merriweather Post Portrait Sells for $35,560 at Sotheby's, Far Exceeding Estimates

The recent sale of a 1907 portrait of Marjorie Merriweather Post at Sotheby's for $35,560 demonstrates the enduring market strength for historically significant portraiture, particularly works connected to transformative business figures. The oil on canvas painting, executed by celebrated British artist Sir James Jebusa Shannon, dramatically surpassed its pre-sale estimate of $10,000 to $15,000, signaling robust collector appetite for works that capture pivotal moments in both artistic and business history.

Shannon, one of the foremost society portraitists of the Edwardian era and a Royal Academician, created this work when Post was just twenty years old, decades before she became a defining figure of American high society and a leading collector of Russian art. The portrait's delicate realism foreshadows Post's transformation from youthful debutante to commanding businesswoman who would eventually oversee the General Foods Corporation empire built by her father, cereal magnate C.W. Post. This connection to American business legacy adds significant value beyond mere artistic merit.

The painting's substantial size—approximately 56 by 45 inches in a carved Carrig-Rohane frame dated 1907—and its provenance tracing to R. Thornton Wilson contributed to its market appeal. Its previous appearance at https://www.christies.com New York in 1992 under the title Portrait of a Lady underscores how attribution and historical context can dramatically influence artwork valuation over time.

For business leaders and collectors, the sale at https://www.sothebys.com represents more than just an art market transaction—it reflects the growing recognition of how portraiture can capture critical moments in business history. The work was created when both artist and sitter were ascending their respective social and professional trajectories, capturing the genteel optimism of the Edwardian age before the upheavals of the First World War. This timing adds historical significance that resonates with collectors interested in the intersection of art, business, and social history.

The portrait's serene expression, softly lit and framed by a high lace collar, contrasts with the assertive poise that would later define Post's public persona as a business leader and philanthropist. Shannon's restrained brushwork and compositional elegance reflect his academic training at London's South Kensington School of Art under Sir Edward Poynter, as well as his early commissions from Queen Victoria. These artistic credentials, combined with the subject's business legacy, create a compelling value proposition for collectors.

The substantial premium paid for this work indicates a renewed appetite for early twentieth-century portraiture tied to figures of historical prominence and enduring social allure. For the art market and business community alike, such sales demonstrate how artworks connected to transformative business figures continue to appreciate, serving as both cultural artifacts and valuable assets that bridge Gilded Age opulence with modern American enterprise.