Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest stunned after hearing the value of artwork made by his famous dad (marketrealist.com)
Guest Stunned by $15,000 Appraisal for Father’s Art on Antiques Roadshow
Viewers of “Antiques Roadshow” often witness incredible discoveries, but a recent episode saw a guest delighted by the significant value of a painting created by his own father, renowned artist Demetrios Jameson. The artwork, an early piece from Jameson’s student days, received an insurance estimate of $15,000, much to the guest’s surprise and pleasure.
The painting, which the guest found in his father’s closet, was brought before expert Colleene Fesko, who immediately recognized it as a “terrific example of American modernism/surrealism.” The guest revealed that his father completed the piece in 1947 while he was a student at Washington University in St.
Louis, Missouri. Fesko noted the clear influence of Max Beckmann, a prominent German expressionist artist, under whom Jameson studied.
“You can really see he was picking up on the things that he was taught by the master,” Fesko observed, a sentiment echoed by the guest who affirmed his father’s high regard for Beckmann.
Recalling the painting’s personal history, the guest shared, “This painting used to hang in my grandmother’s house. The only thing is, I keep waiting for her to turn around, and I’ve been waiting for about 60 years for her to turn around,” he said, pointing to the enigmatic subject.
He explained that he chose to bring this particular artwork to the show because “we know very little about…the values, or what have you, for this era. There aren’t very many like this.”
Fesko further elaborated on the artwork’s style and provenance, highlighting that early works by important artists like Jameson are highly sought after. She pointed out unique elements within the painting, such as a crumpled piece of paper, an enigmatic red-haired figure in an acidic green skirt, cracks in concrete, a broken silo, and crumbling columns, describing them as “Central casting, wonderful surrealism.” Fesko emphasized that the modernist and surrealist movements remain robust and desirable in the American art market, even amidst economic fluctuations.
The expert’s thorough assessment culminated in a thrilling appraisal. Fesko declared, “I would insure this one at $15,000,” prompting an elated “Oh, wow!
Oh, great!” from the surprised guest.
In closing, Fesko praised Demetrios Jameson as a very important artist and commended the guest for preserving such a special, early work by his father. The episode served as a reminder of the hidden treasures that can exist within family collections and the enduring legacy of artistic talent.