David Johnson Painting, ca. 1885

Appraised on: June 30, 2007

Appraised in: Orlando, Florida

Appraised by: Elaine Banks Stainton

Category: Paintings & Drawings

Episode Info: Orlando, Hour 1 (#1204)

Originally Aired: January 28, 2008

IMAGE: 1 of 1  

Appraisal Video: (1:10)

GUEST: It was in my parents' home at the time they bought it, oh, about 1943, uh, in Wayne, Pennsylvania.

APPRAISER: They didn't know where it came from before then?

GUEST: No, no.

APPRAISER: I see. Well, as you see, it does say "David Johnson" on the tag. And we discovered something which I understand you hadn't seen before. There's a monogram here at the lower right, "DJ"...

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: ...which is David Johnson's monogram.

GUEST: Mm.

APPRAISER: So we are sure that it is by him. It's exactly his style. There are other, some wonderful, unusual features about it. There are these figures here...

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER:...which are unusual in his work. David Johnson is an important figure in the second generation of the Hudson River School. It's probably the original frame. It's a frame of that period. In wonderful condition. The painting's in wonderful condition. Absolutely sterling example of his work. It would sell at auction for about $40,000, and retail for about twice that, around $80,000.

GUEST: Oh, my goodness. My goodness.

APPRAISER: And I'm thrilled to see it.

GUEST: Thank you.