Hey, I might be pompous but I'm not rich. Trust me on that. When I said that I lost everything in Texas it wasn't an exaggeration - but I won't go into ugly details. Fortunately I still have most of my art collection (minus some that the movers "lost").
Eventually I'll have to consider selling some of it - - but dealing with greedy, unscrupulous art dealers is another story I won't go into. Believe me, I've had bitter experiences.
I've had an "expert" sniff at my Venice by Moonlight painting by Paulucci and tell me it's worthless (see previous post). I've since discovered that one of Paulucci's paintings sold for $18,000. No lie.
But what about me - a pauper collecting art? It started long ago when I decided that it would be neat (yes, I still use the word "neat") to own one antique painting. I snagged a very old painting for a low price at an auction: a family home painted in 1732 by someone named Lounsbury.
My first art acquisition. Not much to look at but ancient, nevertheless.
I got this 65 year-old painting of a deer on masonite for 9 dollars. Yup, nine bucks! It's very large and I still have it hanging on one of my walls here in TN.
I think it would be a great idea if all foreigners would be held in customs and sprayed.
Some of my "sensitive" readers are cringing right now. Jon is a heartless Nazi!
Another of my more expensive acquisitions is this 1850 painting of a harvest scene. I bought it from the mayor of a city in New Jersey. It hangs above a piano in the living room.
Sometimes I'm intrigued by paintings simply for the colors. I love this 1915 German mountainscape (below) which hangs in my bedroom.
I also like this snowscene (below) which I gave to my Mom for her bedroom when I lived in Texas.
I have numerous portrait paintings - but it never occurred to me until recently that several are smokers. That's merely coincidence (see Boy With Cigarette on previous post).
I have a large collection of antique drawings and watercolors. The best part about this medium is that they're more compact than oil paintings.
Fortunately I recognized that "pseudonym". This in fact painted by John Joseph Englehart (1867-1915) who was a very well-known landscape artist.
Two watercolors from the early 1930's
I have dozens of watercolors. Let's skip to some drawings.
San Paolo (St. Paul)
by Giuseppe Beghelli
This post was a continuation of my previous post, and these examples are only a small part of the things in my collection.
I won't bother to mention the fact that I have a small insignificant unframed painting of two trees, which I got from a woman in France, and which has a curious but familiar signature on the verso....
C. Monet
I am not jesting. Could it possibly be........???
These are beautiful. I'm pretty sure the man dressed in green with the pipe is Eliott Gould. I own very little original art. Most of mine are prints. I hope that when the time comes for you to part with any of these that you can find an honest art dealer. C. Monet, hmm...
ReplyDeleteI thought the dude in green looked familiar. You're right on target - he could be Elliot Gould's brother.
DeleteInsurance?burglar alarm?Especially now you have shown them off.
ReplyDeleteGlad you did though.Are you going to show the Monet or just tease....
Art thieves will definitely try to find me here in the hillbilly wilderness. Fortunately I'm armed and dangerous.
DeleteI often say and show too much on my blog. I'll keep the Monet a secret....at least for awhile.
Is that a deceased someone-or-another in Vertrauen? I know for a fact, some of my father's (German) early family members used to photograph their deceased loved ones in the casket. (Yewwwww.)
ReplyDeleteI know nothing about art, but was particularly drawn to the snow scene. Winter has always been my favorite of the seasons.
The "Vertrauen" illustration seems to depict a mother and her children at the tomb of the departed husband/father. I could be wrong but that's my guess. It's better than a photo of the corpse.
DeleteI like the snow scene, too. I don't think that painting is particularly old - perhaps 30 or 40 years. The artist is Robert Urich (not the actor, by the way...)
What does constitute 'rich', Jon? I see your art and think you are lucky to have it, and will share it in other venues, like museums, when comes that time.
ReplyDeleteIt's an interesting collection, several of what I've come to see as either the Hudson's school, or the Remington style of western art. I have some Southwest Indian things, rugs, pottery, that I enjoy, and I agree that the possession of it does not incur wealth...it's something we have for this moment, but someone else will have in the decades to come. We can put a vase by Fran Nampeyo on our fireplace mantle, but does that make us any better? More lucky, perhaps. ..But we should give that back.
cheers,
Mike
Somehow I thought that displaying my art collection would make me look like a braggart, but I'm glad everyone enjoyed seeing it. The real wealth comes from looking at these things and appreciating their artistic worth - and preserving them for future generations.
DeleteI like Southwest art and culture - and my mother had always been completely fascinated by it (she spent a lot of time in New Mexico before she was married). I still have a few treasures that she purchased.
This has been a wonderful tour of some of your treasured artwork, Jon. Once again I've been looking at each of them for a long while. Fortunately the two Henriette Ronner paintings stayed with you. They are gorgeous, as are those frames. I love artwork. My collection hardly compares, but I do like what I have.
ReplyDeleteI hope yours is a Monet and you DON'T show it. He's my favorite ... I adore all of his work.
To me, there is something very satisfying about having old art. I feel that part of the artist's soul is with me. I'm glad you enjoyed seeing these.
DeleteThank you for sharing theses beautiful works, Jon. I've sure enjoyed viewing them.
ReplyDeleteDigging these treasures out and posting them here has definitely renewed my appreciation for them. I actually surprised myself by seeing how many of them that I have!
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed the tour, Geo.
Do you ever rotate your paintings? It would be like being in a new place every time you changed them. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI never thought of rotating the paintings but it's not a bad idea. Once in awhile I'll exchange one for another, but not often.
DeleteI know little or nothing about art and could never tell a fake from an original, so I find this fascinating. I like the winter scene, too. Especially right now when I am tired of the heat and humidity and am waiting for fall--LOL! You pick interesting works--whether they are worth money or not, doesn't matter. They are beautiful and unique. :)
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to art, the most important thing is to go with your instincts and get what you like. There are many treasures among the least expensive things.
DeleteMuch like you, I'm eagerly anticipating autumn.
Every time I see a winter scene, however, I'm rudely reminded of how many times I fell on the ice.
That looks like Monet's signature, for it is in his rather forthright style. The age of the paper is obvious, even in a photo, and could easily be documented. Let no poppin' jay "sniff" at your choices. I do not think, believe, or would even consider you as a braggart. You have your memories and your fantastic collection of art. By showing them, you are merely giving pleasure to your readers and sharing what makes your heart beat. Braggart? Hardly. Wise collector? Obviously. You could be living off the profits for the rest of your life, but that would not feed your soul or your memories.
ReplyDeleteWhile everyone else is worrying about theft, I worry about mold, mildew, and fire.
Ah, Dana, if only everyone could see the world through your point of view! You're observations are always apt. I'm not a braggart - - and I'm not pompous, either, but I learned very early in life to assume a reasonable imitation.
DeleteAnd, I definitely worry about fire, mold, mildew, floods - and everything else imaginable.
Jon,
ReplyDeleteI am impressed! You have beautiful artwork. I love every piece. You've tempted me to take photos of my artwork and post them. No where near the value of yours but I think some of my readers will find them interesting. Plus I'll have a record of my artwork should the worst happen and a hurricane hit Casa Tipton-Kelly and my artwork would be scattered to the hinterlands. Thanks for the idea and thanks for sharing. We have the same taste in art!
Ron
One of the reasons I did these two posts was to have at least a partial record of my art collection. It would be really interesting to see your collection.
DeleteBTW
I'm still reading books from the Tipton Wing of my library. Presently I'm reading the one about director Billy Wilder. Fascinating information!
You have excellent taste. The sketches are equally as enchanting as the oils and watercolors.
ReplyDeleteI really love the sketches. It's amazing what some artists can do with a pencil.
DeleteThese are all fabulous. You have a real eye for art. I reckon that's because you have the soul of an artist.
ReplyDelete