"At The Cottage Door", Artist, J.A. Gunn, 1870
Background/Provenance
The work of art was produced by a genre' artist, J.A. Gunn, in 1870, some 40 years after the Potato Famine descimated Ireland, and is 'signed in red' by the Artist. Gunn titled the work, "At The Cottage Door".
The 'impish-looking' fellow (subject) in the work is wearing garb typical to late 18th Century Ireland. A distinctive 'Irish hat' and potatoes are strewn on the floor spilling from a sack indicating that the subject may have just finished harvesting a bag of potatoes. Also present is a typical earthenware pitcher used to hold 'stout' and there's a glass on the inverted basket which appears to be half full indicating the subject has just finished the day's work.
The work of art was produced by a genre' artist, J.A. Gunn, in 1870, some 40 years after the Potato Famine descimated Ireland, and is 'signed in red' by the Artist. Gunn titled the work, "At The Cottage Door".
The 'impish-looking' fellow (subject) in the work is wearing garb typical to late 18th Century Ireland. A distinctive 'Irish hat' and potatoes are strewn on the floor spilling from a sack indicating that the subject may have just finished harvesting a bag of potatoes. Also present is a typical earthenware pitcher used to hold 'stout' and there's a glass on the inverted basket which appears to be half full indicating the subject has just finished the day's work.
Provenance
Provenance
This painting has been in Dr. Resnick's extended family for over 130 years and the line of ownership, itself, has a very colorful history! The painting was first owned by Dr. Resnick's Maternal Great Grand Father, James E. Mason, who, according to legend, 'won' the painting during card game which took place in Oil CIty, PA in 1885. James E. Mason was the father of Dr. Resnick's Maternal Grand Mother, Anne Elizabeth Mason. Both James E. Mason and Anne Elizabeth Mason were descendants of George Mason, first Governor of Massachussets and owner of New Hampshire. James E. Mason passed away in 1899 at which time Anne E. Mason fell heir to the painting. Anne E. Mason passed away in 1976 at the age of 88 years. The painting remained the property of James/Anne E. Mason/Family from the time period 1875 through 1976. In 1976 Dr. Resnick's Mother, Virginia Mason Milberger, eldest daughter of Anne E. Mason (Milberger) and Claude J. Milberger, inherited the painting from Anne E. Mason/Milberger, her Mother. In 1983 Dr. Resnick's Mother, Virginia Mason Milberger, passed away and Dr. Resnick fell heir to the work.
Since September, 1984, the painting has been locked in a safe at a secure location and has never been displayed to the general public. The painting is in the original frame, which has a distinctive brocade (sculpted plaster with gold leaf overlay) ornating the entire frame. There are several spots on the frame that are damaged which can be easily repaired by an Artisan possessing reasonable skill in the art of such repair.
The physical dimensions of the canvas are 18" inches wide inside the frame, and 24" inches high inside the frame. The fame itself, dimensions are 24" wide by 32" high.
The method in which the canvas is placed in the actual frame, with wooden wedges, which are small, wooden triangular-shaped spacers typically used in the art of frame-making in the late 1800's England, attest to the authenticity of the age/era of the work.
The painting has been signed in red by the Artist, and reads, 'J Gunn, 1870'.
In early 2006 Dr. Resnick attended an antique-show/auction in Pittsburgh, PA where for just one hundred dollars a certified art appraiser advertised that it would provide an estimate of value for any object brought in by attendees for valuation. Despite paying the fee the Appraiser refused to state a definite value preferring to state only that 'the painting is genuine and definitely has a value in the many thousands of dollars', and refunded the hundred dollar fee.
In late 2006 Dr. Resnick submitted hi-res photos and an application to Christies of London to the New York City office in an effort to determine a possible value of the work. The description of the painting along with the hi-res photo's were sent by Christies to their representative in Dublin, Ireland who estimated the value to be somewhere between Seven to Eleven Thousand Pounds Sterling ($8413.00 to $16,480.00). Christies would not take the work on consignment and would not "Certify" a specific value for the piece as the price threshold was/is below their standard.
As no 'certified appraisal' has ever been rendered regarding this work of art, other than a letter showing that Christies looked at the hi-res photos of the painting, it's difficult to determine the real value of the piece. It could be a 'hidden masterpiece' worth many thousands of dollars, or, it may be worthless. We just don't know as no one has been able to find out anything about the artist, J. Gunn, 1870.
This painting has been in Dr. Resnick's extended family for over 130 years and the line of ownership, itself, has a very colorful history! The painting was first owned by Dr. Resnick's Maternal Great Grand Father, James E. Mason, who, according to legend, 'won' the painting during card game which took place in Oil CIty, PA in 1885. James E. Mason was the father of Dr. Resnick's Maternal Grand Mother, Anne Elizabeth Mason. Both James E. Mason and Anne Elizabeth Mason were descendants of George Mason, first Governor of Massachussets and owner of New Hampshire. James E. Mason passed away in 1899 at which time Anne E. Mason fell heir to the painting. Anne E. Mason passed away in 1976 at the age of 88 years. The painting remained the property of James/Anne E. Mason/Family from the time period 1875 through 1976. In 1976 Dr. Resnick's Mother, Virginia Mason Milberger, eldest daughter of Anne E. Mason (Milberger) and Claude J. Milberger, inherited the painting from Anne E. Mason/Milberger, her Mother. In 1983 Dr. Resnick's Mother, Virginia Mason Milberger, passed away and Dr. Resnick fell heir to the work.
Since September, 1984, the painting has been locked in a safe at a secure location and has never been displayed to the general public. The painting is in the original frame, which has a distinctive brocade (sculpted plaster with gold leaf overlay) ornating the entire frame. There are several spots on the frame that are damaged which can be easily repaired by an Artisan possessing reasonable skill in the art of such repair.
The physical dimensions of the canvas are 18" inches wide inside the frame, and 24" inches high inside the frame. The fame itself, dimensions are 24" wide by 32" high.
The method in which the canvas is placed in the actual frame, with wooden wedges, which are small, wooden triangular-shaped spacers typically used in the art of frame-making in the late 1800's England, attest to the authenticity of the age/era of the work.
The painting has been signed in red by the Artist, and reads, 'J Gunn, 1870'.
In early 2006 Dr. Resnick attended an antique-show/auction in Pittsburgh, PA where for just one hundred dollars a certified art appraiser advertised that it would provide an estimate of value for any object brought in by attendees for valuation. Despite paying the fee the Appraiser refused to state a definite value preferring to state only that 'the painting is genuine and definitely has a value in the many thousands of dollars', and refunded the hundred dollar fee.
In late 2006 Dr. Resnick submitted hi-res photos and an application to Christies of London to the New York City office in an effort to determine a possible value of the work. The description of the painting along with the hi-res photo's were sent by Christies to their representative in Dublin, Ireland who estimated the value to be somewhere between Seven to Eleven Thousand Pounds Sterling ($8413.00 to $16,480.00). Christies would not take the work on consignment and would not "Certify" a specific value for the piece as the price threshold was/is below their standard.
As no 'certified appraisal' has ever been rendered regarding this work of art, other than a letter showing that Christies looked at the hi-res photos of the painting, it's difficult to determine the real value of the piece. It could be a 'hidden masterpiece' worth many thousands of dollars, or, it may be worthless. We just don't know as no one has been able to find out anything about the artist, J. Gunn, 1870.
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