Wednesday, February 09, 2000
'Junk room' painting sells for $30,000
Art once adorned wall at Children's
BY JAMES RITCHIE
The Associated Press
LOUISVILLE — Too big for her walls and too dreary for her tastes, the painting of a seascape was relegated to the “junk room” of Dianne Scott's basement to collect dust with the Christmas decorations.
“It wasn't my type,” she said.
She was very fond, however, of the price it brought at auction: a cool $30,000.
Ms. Scott, of Louisville, had underestimated the true value of the work, which had belonged to her great aunt, Mabel Kirk.
According to family history, the oil-on-canvas piece hung decades ago in the Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, where Ms. Kirk worked as a receptionist. It was eventually given to Ms. Kirk, who had admired it, and she put it on display in her living room.
When Ms. Kirk died, she left the art to Ms. Scott's mother, who died early last year. Ms. Scott found herself in possession of the painting and didn't quite know what to do with it. “I had gotten to the point where I couldn't even afford to have it appraised,” she said.
But she found out about a dealer who gave free appraisals of artwork and antiques on a local television show. When she brought it to him, the dealer was a bit taken aback.
“You can basically see right away it wasn't by an amateur,” said Scott Nuss baum, the dealer. “And then when I saw the name, I told her this was a painting worth thousands of dollars.”
The untitled piece, dated 1886, is by William Trost Richards, a Philadelphia-born artist who became well-known for his maritime scenes.
Mr. Nussbaum doubted the piece would command its full value in Louisville, so he offered it for sale on the World Wide
The paintingnow belongs to a private collector in Pennsylvania.
Ohio may sell lottery online
Our kids deserve food that's safe
Community policing has an impact
Last of Buffalo Soldiers fights for recognition
siblings fight parole for dad's killer
Berry chosen as 'person of the century'
Council pay raises draw flak
County says it paid corrections officer $250,000
Despite new effort, organ giving down again
Couple found dead in murder-suicide
McConnell: Clinton waging 'war' on tobacco farmers
Newport wants Barleycorn's evicted
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Redistricting plan upsets some
Liddy's off local air, but it's no conspiracy
A fine-tuned 'Alexander' could be great
GET TO IT
Top conservationists coming to town
Bridge to past desired
Court finds politics not valid reason to fire jailer
Expert urges involvement on public schools
Fairfield will sing praises of its heroes
Fire department cuts its response times in half
Hamilton citizens get a feel for police work
Ind. House OKs commandments
'Junk room' painting sells for $30,000
Ludlow retirement plans in a muddle
Mason keeps principal
Missing mom, ex-husband sought
Mom slain, court told
Monroe school board names given
Parents shown uniform styles
Students gain skills to sell
TRISTATE DIGEST
