Edgar Ewing Depicts Ancient Subject for Modern Painting

Edgar Ewing "Vesalius as a Naval Surgeon" Oil on masonite

This month's artwork selection is by California artist Edgar Ewing (1913-2006). Our local reader bought “Vesalius as a Naval Surgeon” on eBay for $110. The size 12” x 6” painting is an oil on board.

Edgar Louis Ewing was born in Nebraska. As a young art student, he attended the University of Chicago, where he was given an art fellowship to study in Europe. Ewing was heavily influenced by his travels through Europe was especially intrigued by the history of Spain, Greece, Rome. Ewing eventually moved to the West Coast where he began teaching at the University of Southern California. He painted and taught alongside many other painters of the mid-century.

This portrait is part of the well-known Vesalius Series by Ewing. Andreas Vesalius was an anatomist, physician, and author of the book on human anatomy entitled, De humani corporis fabrica (On the Workings of the Human Body). Vesalius is referred to as the founder of modern human anatomy.

It is claimed that in 1565, Vesalius performed an autopsy on an aristocrat in Spain while his heart was still beating. This was deemed so atrocious to Spain’s Emperor Charles V, that he condemned Vesalius to death.

The painting depicts an ominous five-pronged hook hanging above the portrait of Vesalius, who wears a traditional naval cap and coat. Ewing paints in his signature post-cubist style, deconstructing the forms. The palette of red and black reflect the dark subject of the painting.

In researching the appraised value of this painting, it appears Ewing’s work has sold for up to $5,700 at auction, but most paintings of this size have sold between $200-$400. His large masterworks are priced as high as $10,000 in private galleries.

“Vesalius as a Naval Surgeon” is in good condition with minor signs of dust but no abrasions or paint losses. In appraising this painting, an appraiser would consider the morbid subject which means it might only appeal to a small audience. This would limit the market value. If this painting were listed for sale in a gallery it would have an estimated Retail value of approximately $500-$700. A savvy, if sinister, investment indeed!

* READERS: This is not an official art appraisal. It is for informational purposes only. An appraisal is a legal document, generally for insurance purposes, written by a qualified expert who has examined the artwork in-person and is paid for by the owner of the item. An appraisal involves an extensive amount of research to establish authenticity, provenance, composition, method of construction, and other important attributes of a particular object. This article is restricted-use and is intended for educational purposes only. Any portion of this text CANNOT be reproduced or copied without the consent of the author.

A California Modernist Artist's Pilgrimage

A most interesting painting came along this month -- by California artist Richard Haines (1906-1984). It was purchased by a Santa Barbara art collector from an estate sale. She bought it for a whopping $1,000, just because she loved it!

After some research, I found that Charles Richard Haines was born in Marian, Iowa 1906 and studied at the Minneapolis School of Art. Like many artists he became involved in the New Deal government-sponsored art program and won nine mural commissions from the Treasury Department's Section of Painting and Sculpture between 1935 and 1941. The murals were primarily done in U.S. Post Office in the midwest. In 1941, Haines moved to Los Angeles, where he began teaching at two important art schools of the time, Chouinard Art Institute and Otis Art Institute.

Haines was a founding member of California Modernist style of painting and worked primarily as a painter. A prominent mid-century Los Angeles art dealer Dalzell Hatfield said Richard Haines's paintings “[capture] a meandering silence, a pause in time, a captive moment, all of which tend to reveal the spiritual values of humanity while depicting its physical form."

This painting entitled, “The Pilgrimage” depicts a group of religious figures walking through the desert. Nearly abstract in its decomposition (and subject), the artist appears to be influenced by both cubism and surrealism. The broken planes of color and unique palette of pink and brown give the painting a distinctive quality that is unique to Haines' work.

After a bit of art appraisal research, I discovered that few of Haines’ paintings have sold at auction. His works have sold up to $8,800 but most auction records indicate paintings selling between $500-$1,000 depending on subject, size, date, condition, and provenance. His strongest market is at auction but only a few galleries carry his work.

There are a number of artists like Haines who I appraise in and around Southern California. They were part of the California modernist artist group working during the 1940s-60s -- and their work is still undervalued. Comparable artists on the East Coast are demanding more than five times as much as these artists. Considering the skill, subject-matter, and style I believe it is a genre of work that will likely rise in value as more art collectors discover these artists’s work.

If this painting were appraised for auction purposes it would have an estimated value of approximately $800-$1,200 so our reader paid just about what it is worth on today’s market.

READERS: We need your submissions! Please email us a photo of your painting,  drawing, or sculpture for next month’s The Art Appraiser. Send the artist name, title,

Alissa Anderson Campbell is an art appraiser for Anderson Shea Art Appraisals. She specializes in appraising European and American art for insurance, resale value, estate, tax, and charitable donation. Campbell is a member of the International Society of Appraisers. Ph. 805.616.2781/www.andersonshea-artappraisals.com

* This is not an official appraisal. It is for informational purposes only. An appraisal is a legal document, generally for insurance purposes, written by a qualified expert who has examined the artwork in-person and is paid for by the owner of the item. An appraisal involves an extensive amount of research to establish authenticity, provenance, composition, method of construction, and other important attributes of a particular object. This article is restricted-use and is intended for educational purposes only.

Samuel Thal: American Scene Painter

Samuel Thal "Farm" circa 1940s, Oil on canvas

This painting by American artist Samuel Thal (1903-1964) is was purchased by a local reader through an online auction in Connecticut. These days, it is easy for anyone to find artworks at online auctions throughout the world. Our reader bid on this painting without even seeing it! Although it was estimated to sell between $800-$1,200, she snatched it up for $500.

Samuel Thal was born in New York City in 1903, as the son of Russian immigrants. He grew up on a farm in Hadlyme, Connecticut and studied art at the National Academy of Design and the Art Students League. Thal spent most of of his life in Boston where he studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and spent many years doing architectural sculpture. By the 1930s Thal was working as a full-time artist.

He also assisted in the establishment of the art education programs under the WPA Federal Art Project. Thal also taught life drawing classes at Garland Junior College in Boston, the Boston Architectural Club and the Boston Museum of Modern Art.

This painting, "Figure in a Landscape" is a signature painting for Thal, depicting a figure overlooking his farm. Like the American Regionalists and Ashcan painters of the 1930s and 1940s, Thal depicted images of everday life in America including cityscapes, landscapes, and figures. Thal’s realist style and loose, expressionistic brushstrokes can also be compared to the style of Van Gogh's early work.

After a bit of appraisal research, I discovered that a number of Thal’s paintings have sold at auction. His auction records range from $600-$4,000 depending on subject, size, date, condition, and provenance. His strongest market is at auction with only a few galleries carrying his work -- but retail prices could be up to 50% higher in a gallery setting.

If this painting were appraised for Insurance purposes it would have a Retail Replacement Value of approximately $2,000-$3,000. *Retail Replacement Value is defined as the highest amount in terms of US dollars that would be requireda to replace a property with another of similar age, quality, origin, appearance, provenance, and condition with a reasonable length of time in an appropriate and relevant market. When applicable, sales and/or import tax, commissions and/or premiums are included in this amount.

* This is not an official appraisal. It is for informational purposes only. An appraisal is a legal document, generally for insurance purposes, written by a qualified expert who has examined the artwork in-person and is paid for by the owner of the item. An appraisal involves an extensive amount of research to establish authenticity, provenance, composition, method of construction, and other important attributes of a particular object. This article is restricted-use and is intended for educational purposes only.

Local California Artist Barnaby Conrad

This painting by Santa Barbara artist Barnaby Conrad (1922-2013)was chosen this month for its local connection. Our reader bought the piece in May 2009 in Carpinteria, California. With an asking price sticker of $800, our reader was able to negotiate the price to $450.

Best known as a writer, Conrad lived an extraordinary life. Born in San Francisco, he studied Yale, University of North Carolina, and the University of Mexico (where he began bull fighting). He was a friend of Sinclair Lewis, John Steinbeck, William F. Buckley Jr. and Ray Bradbury, many of whom he painted. His portraits of Alex Haley and Truman Capote are in the National Portrait Gallery.

This whimsical painting entitled "Fish Diary" is watercolor, oil and collage. Conrad has playfully signs his name in the fishing license section of the painting, giving it a personal touch. This is an example of a trompe-l’œil painting, meaning “trick of the eye.” The style is meant to create an optical illusion where the subject appears in 3-dimensions. A popular style in 19^th century Europe, the style is still used by contemporary artists.

Unfortuntately, Barnaby Conrad has virtually no auction market. With only two auction records that could be located, his paintings have sold at auction for $200-$300. An auction specialist would likely suggest a very low sales estimates of $100-$200 and hope that interested buyers would bid up the price.

            Conrad’s most common and strongest market appears to be in the regional gallery market of Carpinteria and Santa Barbara. The Palm Loft Gallery had an exhibition of his work in 2006. Currently, no galleries are selling his work. In valuing artworks, appraisers often consider the regional market of a certain artist. For instance, California impressionist paintings tend to sell for more in California, as one might expect.

Since many people knew Barnaby Conrad, his values would be higher in this area than in the general art market. He recently passed away which also tends to up the values of an artist’s work. Collectors would pay slightly higher retail prices than the auction records reflect. If this piece were appraised for Insurance, it would likely have a Retail Replacement Value of approximately $500-$600, which is close to what the buyer originally paid.

Retail Replacement Value is defined as the highest amount in terms of US dollars that would be requireda to replace a property with another of similar age, quality, origin, appearance, provenance, and condition with a reasonable length of time in an appropriate and relevant market. When applicable, sales and/or import tax, commissions and/or premiums are included in this amount.

* This is not a formal appraisal. An appraisal is a legal document, generally for insurance purposes, written by a qualified expert who has examined the artwork in-person and is paid for by the owner of the item.  An appraisal involves an extensive amount of research to establish authenticity, provenance, composition, method of construction, and other important attributes of a particular object. This article is restricted-use and is intended for educational purposes only.

Dixie Selden: American Impressionist

Dixie Selden "Portrait of Frank Duveneck" Oil on canvas (Photo:  Courtesy of Cincinnati Art Museum)

I recently did an art appraisal for a Santa Barbara collector of a painting by Dixie Selden. Dixie Selden was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and is best known for her impressionist portraits, still-lifes, and landscapes. She studied art at the Cincinnati Museum Art School under the esteemed artist Frank Duveneck. 

Like many artists of her time, she did the grand tour, seeing art in Selden traveled to Spain, Italy and  France and the rest of Europe. She also gained further artistic training with William Merritt Chase.

Selden also traveled in the U.S., painting the New England coastline during the summers, often with Emma Mendenhall as a painting companion. Selden was President of the Cincinnati Women's Art Club, and was active in the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors. She exhibited with those groups as well as at the Pennsylvania Academy, the Corcoran Gallery, and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Selden is considered a listed artist with strong gallery listings and auction records, indicating her work is widely traded on the market. Past auction records indicate auction sales up to $62,100 although most artworks sell for less. 

Helen Lundeberg: California Surrealist

One of my favorite California artists in the genre of mid-century modernism is Helen Lundeberg. I always love seeing new paintings by her. Lundeberg painted surrealist subjects as well as hard-edged geometric compositions. Her depictions of macrocosms and microcosms are some of her most interesting works.

Helen Lundeberg (1908-1999) was born in Chicago, Illinois 1908. As a child she moved to the artist colony of Pasadena, California. In 1930 she enrolled at the Stickney School of Art in Pasadena where she was met Lorser Feitelson, her future husband.

From 1933-42 Helen Lundeberg worked as a muralist and lithographer for the WPA California Federal Art Project, including a 240-foot-curved wall in Centinela Park in Inglewood, CA. Simultaneously, she and Feitelson founded an art movement known as Post-Surrealism. 

Early in her career Lundeberg's work was exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum and New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Later in her life she had work shown in the San Francisco Museum of Art. She was working during the same time period of Georgia O’Keeffe and some similarities can be found between the two artist's interest in the abstract quality of extreme close-ups. Still, Lundeberg often depicted the cosmos and planetary structures. 

Helen Lundeberg is one of the rare women artists whose work has a strong market value comparative to her male contemporaries. A recent auction at Bonhams and Butterfields sold three of her works in their Made in California sale. 

Before Minimalism - An Early Robert Irwin

Robert Irwin "Boats" c. 1950 Oil/board

[Edited April 16, 2015] A reader discovered this painting of boats at a Santa Barbara garage sale two years back. After leaving the garage sale, she could not stop thinking about it – and returned to buy it for $150.

Upon seeing that the painting was signed ‘Irwin,’ I was eager to discover its worth. Initially it was thought to be an early painting by the very famous minimalist California artist is named Robert Irwin (1928-).  Thanks to some reader comments (below), there is some suggestion it is actually a work by Irwin Brown. 

Robert Irwin is best known for his abstract canvases often depicting lines and dots. He experiments with visual perceptions of color and light. He is primarily a painter but also a sculptor using fluorescent installations. Therefore, the style is not consistent with Robert Irwin's work.

In consulting auction records, Robert Irwin’s work has sold for as much as a million dollars with most works selling for $50,000-$100-000. Recently Clar's auction house sold three paintings attributed to Robert Irwin -- with a very similar signature and style to "Boats." They sold for approximately $1,000.

The lack of a strong market value is based on the fact that an atypical work would not be desirable to collectors of Robert Irwin’s typically minimalist work. There are two abstract 1950s works currently going to auction that are estimated to sell between $30,000-$40,000. 

The question is: does this painting have any value? I always tell my appraisal clients to remember that value is based on many factors. An official appraisal is based on market comparables and takes into account the artist, as well as condition, size, authenticity, provenance, and the current economy. An appraiser also has to consider the style for which an artist is best-known and collected.

Appraisers do not authenticate works. We value them based on an informed assumption they are indeed what they are said to be. Because of this, I hesistate to value this work as a Robert Irwin piece. If “Boats” is indeed a work by Robert Irwin it would be very valuable. If the artist was found to be someone else, the value would be based on an entirely different set of auction records and gallery prices.

Retail Replacement Value is defined as the highest amount in terms of US dollars that would be required to replace a property with another of similar age, quality, origin, appearance, provenance, and condition with a reasonable length of time in an appropriate and relevant market. When applicable, sales and/or import tax, commissions and/or premiums are included in this amount..

Alissa Anderson Campbell is an art appraiser for Anderson Shea Art Appraisals. She specializes in appraising European and American art for insurance, resale value, estate, tax, and charitable donation. Campbell is a member of the Appraisers Association of America (USPAP-compliant). Ph. 805.616.2781/www.andersonshea-artappraisals.com

* This is not considered a formal appraisal. An appraisal is a legal document, generally for insurance purposes, written by a qualified expert who has examined the artwork in-person and is paid for by the owner of the item. An appraisal involves an extensive amount of research to establish authenticity, provenance, composition, method of construction, and other important attributes of a particular object. This article is restricted-use and is intended for educational purposes only.

Andrew Block: A California Folk Artist

Andrew Block "Lions" Oil on cardboard

A reader submitted this unusual painting with an unusual story. He and his wife purchased it as a Christmas present to each other at Morley Byrant & Co., gallery in Los Alamos, California for $400. The folk-art style oil on cardboard by artist Andrew Block (1879-1969) depicts African lions.

After a bit of research, it seems Andrew “Old Man” Block emigrated from Denmark to Solvang in 1914. Block worked as a blacksmith until he abandoned it for painting at 70 years old. Completely self-taught, Block produced over 500 paintings – and painted primarily on cardboard. Influenced by the impressionists and Post-Impressionists, his works are boldly colored and often depict landscapes, seascapes, and small towns.

Block’s style falls into the genre of Primitive, Naïve, or Folk Art painting -- a style and period of painting often characterized by childlike simplicity in both subject matter and technique. It describes the work of an artist who did not receive formal education, such as Henri Rousseau or Grandma Moses.

Block’s paintings have sold at auction with estimates of $300-$1,200 depending on the medium, size, subject, and date. In the gallery market his paintings are currently listed for sale between $500-$3,000. “Lions” is unsigned, which decreases the value and places it on the lower end of Block’s values. It is in very good condition for being painted on cardboard, a porous and atypical medium for paintings

Although Andrew Block only has a few auction records, Block exhibited his work at a number of museums and galleries including the Monterey Penisula Museum, San Diego Art Museum, Oakland Art Museum, Portland Art Museum, Elverhoy Museum, amongst others. This is important when valuing a work as collectors like to see that major institutions have exhibited an artist’s work.

In the current market, folk art is highly desirable to collectors. The highest auction record for a Folk artist is for Grandma Moses -- arguably the most famous artist of this art movement. One of her paintings sold for $1,360,000 (11/30/2006). Moses’ style and period is similar to "Lions", but Moses’ notoriety sets her values above all other Folk painters. A painting like “Lions” would be desirable on the market -- but sell for much less than considering Block is still a relatively unknown artist.

For Insurance purposes, this painting would have a Retail Replacement Value of approximately $1,000. Retail Replacement Value is defined as the highest amount in terms of US dollars that would be required to replace a property with another of similar age, quality, origin, appearance, provenance, and condition with a reasonable length of time in an appropriate and relevant market. When applicable, sales and/or import tax, commissions and/or premiums are included in this amount.

* This is not a formal appraisal. It is for informational purposes only. An appraisal is a legal document, generally for insurance purposes, written by a qualified expert who has examined the artwork in-person and is paid for by the owner of the item. An appraisal involves an extensive amount of research to establish authenticity, provenance, composition, method of construction, and other important attributes of a particular object. This article is restricted-use and is intended for educational purposes only.

California modernist Bentley Schaad up for auction

One of the most interesting California modernist painters working during the mid-century was Bentley Schaad. His work rarely comes up for auction - so I was surprised to see an interesting piece up for sale at Bonhams and Butterfields.

Bentley Schaad "Untitled "Forms" Oil on canvas 24" x 36"

Robert Bentley Schaad was born in Los Angeles, California in 1925.  As a student he went to the Art Center in Pasadena and also attended the Jepson Art Institute and Claremont College.  From his mentor Henry Lee McFee, Schaad learned the principles of painting including line, color, and form.  Schaad was a talented artist and his technical ability enabled him to teach for the majority of his career at Otis. He eventually becoming the Dean of Fine Arts at Otis, teaching many of Los Angeles's best contemporary artists.

Schaad wrote the influential book, The Realm of Contemporary Still Life Painting (New York: Reinhold Publishing, 1962), which served as an instructional text that demonstrates the techniques of line, form, and color theory.  Schaad was known as an aloof and private person but adored by his pupils as a master teacher. 

Schaad is considered a principal figure in the Los Angeles modernist art movement of the mid-century. From his early still life paintings to his geometric constructions, Schaad’s compositions were complex and always had a recognizable aesthetic sensibility. 

For more information on Schaad, go to our website, Anderson Shea Art Appraisals.