David Johnson Painting, ca. 1885
Appraised Value:
$40,000 - $80,000
IMAGE: 1 of 1
Appraisal Video:
Appraisal Transcript:
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.
