Natasha Wallace

There are many paintings and water colors held in private collections. What does it take to get them authenticated?

One of the best places to go for authentication is the  Sargent Catalogue Raisonne project. 

Other avenues you could pursue is to get a qualified appraisal done on the painting. Not everyone that calls themselves an appraiser is necessarily qualified to appraise a Sargent painting. What you would hope to find is someone that is knowledgeable about Sargent's work and has a pulse on the market for Sargent. One of the best sources you might start is to call the national headquarters of the American Society of Appraisers. Their phone number is (800) ASA-VALU and they have designated appraisers in Fine Art. 

The more you know about the painting, the better.  

• Is it signed? Where? How is it signed?
• What is it's size? what is it painted on (paper, canvas, etc)
• Do you know when it was painted? Where it was painted?
• Where did you aquire it? from whom? when? how much?
• Is there any known story to the painting or the person that had it? Is there any letters, papers, documents of any kind that would link the painting to Sargent?

A third step you might take is to call one of the many museums that holds one of Sargent's paintings. 

-- Nat

My uncle has just passed away. He was an art collector. I found a painting that is a John Singer Sargent. It was purchased from the Detroit Institute of Arts in the early 70's. It is being cleaned at this time. I wanted to know if you might have an idea to the name of this portrait . . .  

 Lori P.  
(last name withheld for privacy)

I think I own a valuable Sargent. What should I do?

First, what not to do: do NOT clean it, or reframe it, or restore it, by yourself. If it's on paper, do not give it too much light and never let it receive direct sunlight. And resist the temptation to remove layers of paint to see if the artist painted the women naked under their clothes. 

 Now, if you think you have a valuable work of art, here's what to do: 

 1.Take a trip to the library to familiarize yourself with the artist's oeuvre and find out how much his works are typically worth. This will help you determine how much is would be sensible to spend on the next few steps.  

 2.Have the work authenticated and appraised.  
 3.Insure the work as soon as possible.  
 4.Get advice from a professional conservator.  
 5.Sell the work, if you wish.  
 
 

What are sargents oils on canvas worth in dollars? 

A lot.  

How about $83,250.00 give or take $50.00 depending on the time of year and style of frame. You know those big goppy frames? (a highly technical term) That will make it a lot more valuable. 

No seriously, that’s not an easy question to answer. Sargent’s paintings range in value all over the board. For example Cashmere, a subject painting of Sargent’s niece in multiple poses on the same canvas, sold by Sotherby’s in 1996 for 11.1 million dollars U.S. -- the highest price of any American artist to that time. Mary Turner Austin, a cousin of Sargent, sold December, 1985 for $132,000 U.S. (probably worth a lot more today). An Oil Study of Two Prophets done for the Boston Public Library murals sold May, 1999, at Christies for $74,000 U.S. A portrait of Benjamin Kissman who’s wife was related to the Vanerbelts, was estimated by the gallery to be between $40,000 and $60,000 U.S.  

I know this question has a lot of interests to people so i have compiled a page devoted strictly to this subject called The Market Place. But this is for just general information, you should really consult a designated appraiser. 

It just depends. Subject paintings are not necessarily more valuable. If I could make some huge generalizations on what might be effecting value, one  might say the larger the painting, the more valuable. Uncommissioned personal friends tend to be more valuable since they tend to be more artistic of Sargent and show more of his style and have a closer tie to him personally. It helps if the subject is famous. If they aren't particularly famous, it helps if they are attractive -- an old battle-ax matron isn't as desirable as a young pretty mademoiselle (stunning revelation, I know). It helps if it was during a significant period in Sargent’s art and the closer in orbit you can pin the painting to him – the person – the artist – in the solar system of Sargent’s life, possibly the more valuable.  

Watercolors are not necessarily less valuable than oils, and in many cases more valuable.  

That was a great question, thanks  

Nat 

Dear Natasha Wallace 

I am writing to you because I believe that I have unearthed a John Singer Sargent painting. The interesting point in this is that the believed painting is under four chairs in my sister in law's dinning set. This massive table and 6 chairs were purchased from a European antique dealer. The set purportedly originates from a European castle. It appears to date around the turn of the century. Last night while eating dinner my husband accidentally cracked the elephant skin seat to reveal an oil painting beneath it. 

After we pulled back the seat we could see the Singer signature in the corner of the canvas. We quickly inspected the other chairs to find four quarters of the same painting beneath the chairs. what should we do now to see if this is an original? The curiosity is killing us. I am an art teacher and have been researching all day. It appears to be a garden or still life scene of flowers done in his early impressionistic style. I would appreciate any advice you can give me. 

Sincerely, 
 

Patty Clifton 
 

I think it's highly unlikely, Sargent never signed his name with just "Singer." It is a fascinating story, certainly someone painted it, but apparently someone whether it be the artist or someone who owned the table didn't consider it very important. 

I'm not sure what to tell you. Good luck. 

Nat