RZM Fine Arts and Antiques Inc: Ask the Appraiser

After reading your wonderful column for years, I finally got the nerve to write to you about a painting that I inherited about 40 years ago. In your profession, are there times when you spend a great deal of time trying to figure out the artist’s signature? Well, that is my dilemma. Not only have I looked with a magnifying glass, I’ve had several other family members try to figure out the artist’s name, and they could not. I even took this painting to a local antique dealer, who although he offered to purchase it, was unable to tell me just who painted it. So, as they say, the ball is in your court. The actual painting is 13’ by 10.’ If you are able to read the name, could you please tell me about the artist, and perhaps its value. The day is rapidly approaching where I may well want to sell it. The antique dealer I took it to seemed very interested in purchasing it. Anxious to learn what you may be able to inform me of.

Thank you.

Chris

I certainly can understand your frustration in attempting to identify this artist. You can be certain that art dealers, on a regular basis, spend a great deal of time trying to figure out the artist’s name on signed paintings. However, there are many works of art that, just by the style, I am able to identify rather quickly and before I even see the artist’s name. Your beautiful painting is one of these. The painting in question was executed by the important Danish artist Johann Berthelsen (1883-1972). He was a self-taught Impressionist painter. This artist is best known for his poetic paintings of New York City, often in the snow. He was Born in Copenhagen, then moved with his mother to Wisconsin at an early age where he quickly gravitated toward the arts – singing, acting and painting. He moved to Chicago where he received a full scholarship to attend the Chicago Musical College.

Much of Berthelsen’s early life was spent touring the United States as a performer in the opera, and it wouldn’t be until about 1910 when he began to seriously pursue painting at the encouragement of the important Norwegian-American impressionist artist, Svend Svendsen. Berthelsen moved to New York City in 1920, where he began the work for which he would become best known. The soft paintings of the New York City skyline, which remind me of the romantic impressionist landscape painters of Paris from the previous century. With the Great Depression and the stock market crash of 1929 Berthelsen lost many of his students and his family was forced to sell many of their possessions and move to a smaller apartment. A fellow artist suggested painting in oils, which he began to do, and he had great success in selling these paintings. He was able to sell many beautiful paintings to famed art collectors of that era, including William Randolph Hearst, Frank Sinatra and Dinah Shore. His work continued to be in-demand for the rest of his life. In the mid-1930s he was also involved in several New Deal and W.P.A. art projects. As a fellow member of the Salmagundi Art Club in New York City, I was able to find that he joined the Salmagundi Club in 1935 and remained a member until his death. After studying this artist’s paintings at the Salmagundi Club, I’ve learned to admire his wonderful brush strokes with soft hues and become a collector of his work myself. His work has been exhibited in many New York galleries, including the Barbizon-Plaza Galleries and the Jean Bohne Gallery, among others. He continued to paint well into his eighties. In 1971 he was hit by a car, which caused his health to decline and ultimately his death the following year. Now a word about the value of your painting. Berthelsen’s art is extremely desirable and highly collected. His paintings often sell for tens of thousands of dollars. An average painting from his New York City period can sell from anywhere between $10,000 and $30,000. Based on the size of your painting, and some recent past auction results, a good appraised current value is $8,500.00. Perhaps you should explore having this painting insured, as it seems to be only going to increase in value. By the way Chris, you never told me what the antique dealer offered you for this painting!