Pelham Bay by Daniel Celentano sold for $55,000 at Swann Auction Galleries The Artists of WPA sale on Jan. 27, 2022 in New York City. A born and bred New Yorker, Celentano spent his career making realistic paintings of everyday life in his hometown. He’s particularly known for his scenes inside the Italian neighborhood of East Harlem, New York, where he was raised.
Celentano’s parents recognized his talent early on and arranged for art teachers to tutor him. He went on to enjoy an active career, exhibiting at many galleries and at all the major museums. During the Great Depression, he continued to produce similarly styled works on a grander scale, painting murals for the Public Works of Art Project and the Federal Art Project.
The crowded train in Celentano’s Pelham Bay is a quintessential New York scene—at least pre-pandemic (note the absence of masks)—so it’s no wonder the painting sold for way more than its $8,000-to-$12,000 estimate. As this month’s Valuations Committee Report demonstrates, whether it’s publicity rights or a family business, the value of something is often subjective, especially when tax compliance is involved. Read on for our experts’ tips on how clients can stay out of Tax Court.
