American & Southern | March 26, 2026
Thu, Mar 26, 2026 10:00AM EDT
Lot 63
Edward Beyer, Panoramic View of "Old Liberty", Virginia
Estimate: $70,000 - $90,000
Sold for
$370,000
Sold Price excludes BP
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $100 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $200 |
| $3,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
(German/America, 1820-1865)
View of Liberty, Virginia, 1855, signed and dated lower left, "Ed. Beyer 1855", oil on canvas, 26-1/4 x 58 in.; possibly original period faux painted wood frame, 33-1/2 x 65-1/4 x 3 in.
Provenance: Sara A. Buford, Bedford, Virginia; 1928, descended in the family of William W. and Edith W. Berry
1928. Will of Sarah A. Buford, Bedford, Virginia. 13 August 1928. “I wish …the paintingof Old Liberty …”
The heirs stated in the will are as follows: “Billy Berry (W.W. Berry, III) and his mother, Gladys Berry and Rosalie W. Smith (Rosalie W. Smith Moore), Sarah Buford’s niece .”The heirs did not sell the painting and subsequently it was put in Mrs. Moore’s home. William W. Berry, III was executor and sole beneficiary of Rosalie Moore and therefore the painting passed to William W. Berry, III (who was an original heir to Ms. Buford’s will). Mr. Berry, whose mother was Gladys Kelsey Berry resided with Rosalie Kelsey Moore. Ms. Moore, in her will, left her estate to W. W. Berry, III. The painting was moved to the private residence of W. W. Berry, III and Edith W. Berry. At Mr. Berry’s death in 1978 the painting passed to his widow, Edith W. Berry and remained in her home until approximately 1990. Her health was declining and with the possibility that she could not remain in her home her heirs made the decision that the painting should be moved to the home of her son, William W. Berry, IV. At that time Mr.
Berry and his wife had the painting appraised and restored before moving it to their home where it remained until it was turned over to Brunk Auctions in Ashville, North Carolina in 2026.
Note: Liberty, Virginia, was named in 1782 for the colonial victory over Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781. It is now the incorporated town of Bedford, Virginia.
Exhibited: Edward Beyer, Roanoke City Library and Fine Art Center, May 1974, catalog no. 4. The Roanoke City Library and Fine Arts Center is now the Taubman Museum of Art.
Literature: Edward Beyer’s Virginia, An Artist’s 1850s Travelogue, 2011, Historical Society of Western Virginia, No. 41
Available payment options
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Sara A. Buford, Bedford, Virginia; 1928, descended in the family of William W. and Edith W. Berry
good clean surface, old wax lining, stabilized crackle, slight stretcher marks, spots of retouch scattered throughout； attractive patina, wear commensurate with age, slight separation at corners Note - Brunk Auctions makes every effort to offer accurate and thorough information, but encourages prospective bidders to inspect items in person whenever possible. Condition statements are provided as a courtesy for general guidance and should not be considered complete or definitive. They do not represent a warranty or assumption of liability by Brunk Auctions. Certain condition issues may not be specifically noted in the report but may be visible in the accompanying photographs, which are considered part of the overall condition report. Please refer to our Terms of Sale for complete information and contact us for additional photos or information as needed.
