Victor Gilbert Painting, ca. 1890
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GUEST:
The artist, Victor Gilbert, was from Paris, born in 1847. He started his career as a simple artisan, but in the 1870s his talent was recognized by Pierre Martin, who was one of the patrons of the impressionistic movement in Paris.
APPRAISER:
But he was actually classically trained. Do you know that?
GUEST:
Was he?
APPRAISER:
He was trained as a classical salon painter. And I think it's interesting here that you can see the influence of Impressionism in how his palette is lighter and brighter and his brush strokes are looser and more open.
GUEST:
Yes, and he did a number of the same genre of flower vendors and street scenes in Paris.
APPRAISER:
Well, as a matter of fact, this really is his quintessential subject matter. He took the streets of Paris as his entire canvas for his whole life. And many of the flower market scenes are painted in front of the Madeleine, many of them at Notre Dame. You mentioned that you had some concerns about the condition.
GUEST:
Well, the colors are not that vibrant, and I'm not sure if that's a restoration problem.
APPRAISER:
Where did you get this picture?
GUEST:
This painting came from an apartment in Cairo where I lived for three years. Of course, during that time, I became very attached to it and finally convinced the landlord to sell it to me.
APPRAISER:
And for how much?
GUEST:
$500.
APPRAISER:
Well, let me first tell you that the condition, while it looks as if it has serious problems, is really not too bad. What's going on here is something that we call bloom, and it's a discoloration in the varnish. It's not surprising to me because Cairo is a very polluted city, and this is the reaction of a natural-resin varnish with air pollution. So it's definitely cleanable. You told me you'd had this appraised at some point in the past. For how much?
GUEST:
About $2,000 to $4,000.
APPRAISER:
$2,000 to $4,000. Would you be surprised if I told you this picture is worth between $30,000 and $50,000?
GUEST:
I would be very happy.
APPRAISER:
Well, I think you should be very happy.
GUEST:
Terrific. I love it.
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