Another Gray Area of Value
Last week we wrote about the difference between proven provenance and likely provenance. Today we will discuss an even more curious designation. This one really spoke to Katrina and she asked the customer to bring it in.
This tondo portrait of a young woman caught our attention. The soft face, gentle turn of the head, and the handling of drapery pointed toward a late 19th-century continental academic. In particular, it strongly reflects the style of Jean-Baptiste Greuze or his contemporaries.
You often see the phrase “attributed to” used in catalogs. As we discussed last week, it’s an appealing phrase, but in this case, a bit too ambitious. While this painting clearly borrows from that school and period, we will describe it as “in the style of” or “circle of” to be more honest and accurate.
That said, the physical construction supports the age. The stretcher and materials are consistent with late 19th to early 20th-century work, so it aligns well with the period. So it may very well be genuine.
Because of that balance … quality, period correctness, but cautious attribution … we’ve chosen to set a modest estimate, $1,000-$1,500. In our experience, that’s often where the market does its best work. Two bidders who see the same beauty can fight it out. The workmanship is stunning and the final bid will set the value.
Because that’s when the real valuation begins.
