Wright Auction

Artists Horace Clifford “H.C.” Westermann and Herbert Walter Pannier were classmates at the Art Institute of Chicago, and the two maintained a twenty-year correspondence—sharing letters, drawings, holiday greetings, and words of encouragement—until Westermann’s death. In fact, Pannier organized Westermann’s first one-man sculpture show at Rockford College in 1956 and another show at Morton Junior College in April 1968.

The present collection, featuring over fifty unique letters, postcards, and envelopes (many double-sided and most featuring illustrations by the artist), was passed to Pannier's brother Frank J. Pannier after his death in 1982, and lovingly and thoroughly assembled by Pannier’s niece, Virginia. The collection begins with a letter from influential gallerist Allan Frumkin to Pannier acknowledging the Rockford show, which Frumkin seems to have missed. It continues through two volumes commemorating various gallery exhibitions, friendly visits, health scares, the Cuban Missile Crisis, numerous awards, Christmas greetings, condolences, Valentine notes, and finally, a letter written by Joanna Beall Westermann after the death of her husband in 1981, bringing the correspondence to a poignant close. This carefully curated archive offers a rare, intimate glimpse into the personal and professional relationship between two artists, reflecting not only their shared experiences but also the broader cultural and political events of the time.

Thanks to the dedicated stewardship of Virginia Pannier, we are proud to present this important and comprehensive collection at auction providing a unique opportunity for collectors and scholars alike.