Outerbridge Photos Sold For $753,000

Thirty photographs owned by the Orange County Museum of Art were sold in New York City Thursday for $753,360--more than $250,000 above the auction house’s highest estimate.

The sale of the images by major Modernist photographer Paul Outerbridge Jr. had been opposed by some museum members. Critics had asserted that the works were among the museum’s most distinguished assets. The auction house, Christie’s, did not release the names of the buyers.

Thursday’s was the last of three sales intended to move 90 Outerbridge works from the museum’s collection. It brought the total number of works sold to 70, for about $1.7 million.

Trustees said the photos, mostly taken in New York and Europe, did not fit the museum’s mission of showing California art. Those opposing the sale noted that Outerbridge was an internationally respected photographer who lived in Laguna Beach until his death in 1958.

Critics of the widely publicized sale contended that it broke up one of the top holdings of Modernist photography in the nation, disbursing many of the works to private collections inaccessible to the public.

Opponents also argued that the sale violated donor-recipient trust. According to the opponents, Lois Outerbridge Cunningham, the artist’s late wife who donated the works in 1968, intended that they remain at the museum. Trustees say no documents outlining Cunningham’s intent have been produced.

The museum will receive $661,700 of the proceeds, according to board chairman Charles D. Martin. The money will be used to buy California art of the 20th century.