Benjamin Champney Mt. Chocorua Oil, ca. 1880
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GUEST:
I know it is a painting of Mount Chocorua, which is in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I know it was painted by Benjamin Champney, who had a summer home for 50-some-odd years in Center Conway, New Hampshire...
APPRAISER:
Mm-hmm.
GUEST:
...which is just north of Chocorua, and I know that he was part of the White Mountain School of art, and other than that...
APPRAISER:
Right.
GUEST:
...I don't know much.
APPRAISER:
All right. Well, Benjamin Champney was born in 1817. He died in 1907. A central figure in the White Mountain School. So much so that there's a trailhead that's called Champney Falls.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
And it's probably not far from where this scene is.
GUEST:
Mm hmm.
APPRAISER:
The painting is signed "B. Champney." It is not dated. I do think that it was probably painted later in his career.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
So I'd say it's probably the 1880s, and the reason why I say that is because earlier works by thi-- by, uh, Champney are usually more detailed. This has some lovely detail in it, um, but there's a lot more general, uh, more painterly aspects up here in the trees.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
And you would see a much more detailed version if it were an earlier work.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
If this were in a retail shop...
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
...um, it would probably be about $8,000. Um, if it were to come up for auction...
GUEST:
(sniffles softly)
APPRAISER:
...the prices are usually a little bit less, they're... The estimates are usually more in the...
GUEST:
(breathes deeply)
APPRAISER:
...$3,000 to $5,000 range.
GUEST:
(whispers): Wow. (aloud): Wow. (chuckles) I knew he was very prolific, so I didn't expect that, um... My mother-in-law was consummate bargain hunter. So she undoubtedly got this for a song, and is undoubtedly smiling. (voice breaking): That's amazing.
APPRAISER:
You're making me cry.
GUEST:
Sorry, I'm sorry! (both laughing)
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