1937 Eloise Polk McGill "Flowering Cactus" Oil
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APPRAISER:
So you brought us an Eloise McGill. What can you tell me about her?
GUEST:
She was an artist in San Antonio back in the 1880s, 1890s.
APPRAISER:
So, she...
GUEST:
But she was my great-great-aunt. She's made quite a few paintings. We have about six in our family. We have two in our house.
APPRAISER:
When I looked her up, I realized that her full name is Eloise Polk McGill. She has a distinguished lineage.
GUEST:
Some people thought she was a direct descendant of President Polk, but he did not have any children. She's the grand-niece of Judge Baylor, who started Baylor University.
APPRAISER:
Well, I...
GUEST:
So she's got some connections here to Texas.
APPRAISER:
Absolutely. She's, first studied with Robert Onderdonk in Texas.
GUEST:
Right.
APPRAISER:
And then, at some point later, she studied with William Merritt Chase in New York.
GUEST:
Ah.
APPRAISER:
Now, William Merritt Chase was a, quite a personality as a teacher. And there are lots of little adages that he would say that would stick with his students.
GUEST:
(chuckles)
APPRAISER:
And one of them was, "Take all the time you want to paint this painting-- take 15 minutes."
GUEST:
Wow.
APPRAISER:
Meaning that before you touch your brush to the canvas-- in this case, panel-- you should know exactly what the composition is going to be, and how the painting is going to develop. So that once you start painting, you paint quickly.
GUEST:
Ah, interesting.
APPRAISER:
And that is extremely evident in this painting. She's incredibly competent, secure, confident as a painter. The artist was born in 1868, and she died about 1938. This painting was done in the last two years of her life, and when I saw this painting, when you came up, I was blown away by the brilliant color.
GUEST:
Yes.
APPRAISER:
She was known for doing bluebonnets, as well.
GUEST:
Yes, we have one of the bluebonnets.
APPRAISER:
Well, bluebonnets are particularly popular in Texas, but I love the cactus flowers. Cactuses, they, they bloom in one day, and then the blooms are gone. Isn't that correct?
GUEST:
That's correct.
APPRAISER:
The value of this painting, for retail replacement purposes, is probably close to $20,000.
GUEST:
Oh! Wow, we were hoping for a few thousand-- that's awesome.
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