Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest couldn’t stop crying after expert revealed the value of her grandma’s painting (marketrealist.com)
A local woman was overwhelmed with emotion after learning the true value of a family heirloom on the popular television program “Antiques Roadshow.” The guest inherited a painting from her grandmother, who had purchased it after a summer stay at a dude ranch in the 1940s.
Believing the artwork to be a simple print, the guest had even attempted to clean it herself, removing a trapped mosquito from behind the glass. She admitted to not knowing much about the artist, Henry Francois Farny, other than that he was born in France and later lived in Pennsylvania, and had some connection to the Sioux tribe.
An appraiser on the show revealed Farny actually had a close relationship with the Seneca tribe, who ignited his interest in Native American culture. The painting itself, depicting a peaceful gathering of Native Americans, dated back to around 1890, a prolific period in Farny’s career. The expert highlighted Farny’s unique portrayal of Native Americans, noting his focus on tranquility, unlike some of his contemporaries who depicted conflict.
The appraiser then delivered the stunning news: the painting was estimated to be worth between $200,000 and $300,000 at auction. The guest was speechless, fighting back tears as she processed the shocking valuation.
Overwhelmed, she questioned her earlier cleaning attempt, worried she might have damaged the valuable artwork. The appraiser reassured her, stating while a conservator should have handled the mosquito, she had ultimately done the right thing by preventing potential damage.
Viewers online shared in the emotional moment, calling it one of the most heartwarming appraisals in the show’s history. Many commented on the guest’s genuine reaction, attributing it to the love she had for her grandmother and the memories associated with the painting.