Mathias Joseph Alten Landscape Oils, ca. 1897
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GUEST:
They were purchased by my parents in the late '60s. And the artist is Mathias Alten, and he's a local Grand Rapids artist.
APPRAISER:
I learned of this painter only yesterday.
GUEST:
Oh, really?
APPRAISER:
Because I was fortunate enough to go to the new Grand Rapids Art Museum yesterday.
GUEST:
Oh.
APPRAISER:
And there's quite a representation of his work there.
GUEST:
Yes.
APPRAISER:
He's a very interesting artist. Born in Germany and emigrated to Grand Rapids with his family when he was a teenager. And he ultimately evolved this kind of very impressionistic, heavy, impasto style. He particularly liked to paint landscapes. This is a lovely example of his work. And the palette's very beautiful. Uh, this picture is slightly different. It does have a softer...
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
...more pastoral kind of quality about it. I would say at an auction where they were advertised locally, I think an estimate on this picture might be between $15,000 and $20,000.
GUEST:
Oh, you're kidding! Oh!
APPRAISER:
Um, this one is very lovely. I think probably more like in the between $7,000 and $10,000 range.
GUEST:
Oh, my gosh. It certainly made my day and then some.
APPRAISER:
Oh, great. That's great.
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