sunny slopes of long ago

Texas auction lists Willie Nelson and Lonesome Dove memorabilia from famous photographer's estate

Football player and coach Darrell Royal with friend and country music icon Willie Nelson.

Photo by Bill Wittliff, via Vogt Auction

In May of 2023, Texans got to see some behind-the-scenes pieces of Texas literature history when the personal estate of Lonesome Dove author Larry McMurtry went to auction.

Connections to the book were sometimes a bit abstract, but fans could delight in items like McMurty's writing desk and cowboy boots.

Now the estate of the late Bill Wittliff, screenwriter and photographer for the popular Lonesome Dove miniseries, is going to auction too, by the same group: Vogt Auction in San Antonio. But this time, the Western connection looks more obvious, prominently featuring more than 30 photographs — most of them signed — from on-location, plus more Western collectables.

Austinites may also be especially interested in his other high-profile work with Willie Nelson on Red Headed Stranger, which Wittliff wrote and directed. There are a few photos of the beloved Austin-based country singer in the mix.

Lonesome Dove still occupies the majority of the collection: Fans ready to bid an estimated $3,000-8,000 can take home photos of Tommy Lee Jones during his costume fitting; pensive portraits of Robert Duvall in character; and majestic shots on horseback that can contribute to any West-honoring space, with just a subtle nod to the story for people in the know.

Lonesome Dove on-set photograph by Bill Wittliff The estate includes many signed photographs from the set of Lonesome Dove. Photo by Bill Wittliff, via Vogt Auction/vogtauction.com

Other items include photos with a strong Texas feeling, but no explicit connection to Lonesome Dove or Red Headed Stranger, movie posters, furniture, a smoking pipe connection, several revolvers, indigenous American artifacts, and many books.

Some items are estimated to settle as low as $60, so there is something for almost any collector. The collection can be viewed at vogtauction.com, so even (virtual) window shoppers are welcome.

Interested Texans and travelers can view the collection in-person at a series of gallery previews:

Wednesday, November 8, 10 am to 6 pm
Thursday, November 9, 10 am to 6 pm
Friday, November 10, 10 am to 6 pm
Saturday, November 11, 10:00 am to 1 pm

The auction will start immediately after the Saturday preview concludes at 1 pm. The Vogt website says its auctions are "fun and friendly," open to the public, and do not charge an entry free. Instructions on submitting a bid (in person, by written bid, by phone, or live online) are available at vogtauction.com.

Vogt Auction is located at 7233 Blanco Rd. in San Antonio.

tv books galleries auction western art

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Historic Austin museum will close for more than a year for restoration

Photo courtesy of the City of Austin

The Elisabet Ney Museum will close at the end of 2024 and reopen in mid-2026.

Every building needs some maintenance here or there, and the historic Elisabet Ney Museum needs some extra-special care. Formerly the art studio and residence of its namesake, it's been standing since 1892. It'll spend 2025 in relative solitude, as it undergoes renovation for a year and a half with no visitors allowed.

The museum will close to the public December 30, 2024, and open again in the summer of 2026 if all goes according to plan, a news release from the City of Austin shares. It'll be a quiet period compared to the 21,000 people visiting from around the world each year.

According to a museum overview on the city's website, Elisabet Ney, a European portrait sculptor, bought the property and called her new studio Formosa. She worked on sculptures depicting important Texans like Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston, and collected works of European contemporaries.

The building at 304 East 44th St. includes 3,700 square feet of museum space, which was converted by Ney's friends after her death in 1907. It retains its unique look that juxtaposes a Neo-Classical main studio from 1892 with a later addition from 1902 including a tower for her husband, Edmund, to write in. It is also on 2.5 acres of land, which has largely been restored to its natural state with native species.

A press release lists these tasks (verbatim) within the scope of the new work, referred to as the Capital Improvement Project (CIP):

Restoration of original exterior wood doors and windows
Upgrades and replacement of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system
Replacement of the exhibit and general lighting systems
Repairs to the roof, masonry, plumbing, and interior finishes.

There will also be work to do outside of the building. Workers will replace the pedestrian bridge across Waller Creek, stabilize a 20,000-square-foot portion of the bank, and make the grounds more accessible by adding new pathways.

Funding comes from several sources, according to a release: "the 2012 Bond, Proposition 14, the Parkland Dedication Fund, the Historic Preservation Fund, Partners in Preservation through the National Trust, and contributions from the Friends of the Elisabet Ney Museum."

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Historic Austin museum will close for more than a year for restoration