LOS ANGELES, CA.- The August 9, 2011 sale of California and Western Paintings and Sculpture at Bonhams & Butterfields offered a wide array of important Western scenes, Plein Air, Society of Six and landscapes and cityscapes. Simulcast to San Francisco, the highly-anticipated auction brought more than $2.28 million and featured artists such as E. Charlton Fortune, Hanson Puthuff, Granville Redmond, Arthur Grover Rider, William Frederick Ritschel and William Wendt, among others. Scot Levitt, Vice President and Fine Arts Department Head said of the sale, “During this turbulent week that we witnessed in the world stock markets, the market for California and Western paintings and sculpture continues to be strong. Solid prices, renewed energy and vibrant bidder participation were seen in a number of collecting areas. Interest in the August sale reflected an ongoing constancy in the marketplace for fresh and unique works.