* Woman Tears Up When She Discovers the Truth behind Her Grandmother’s Painting
Each family has its own special heirlooms and possessions passed down from generation to generation. And for Rose’s family, one of them was a precious picture that hung up on Grandma’s wall for years and years. And while the picture held great sentimental value, it wasn’t until Rose did some digging, that she figured out what truly made this painting so valuable.
It’s not just about what she found out though, it’s how she did it. From one small and minor incident she unraveled a grand mystery that had been hidden for decades. When she took it to a professional historian, she couldn’t help but shed some tears – it looked like there were multiple truths to be revealed.
Screenshot from "Antiques Roadshow PBS"/Youtube
Keep on reading to join in on the journey of how Rose discovered and unraveled the mysteries of her grandmother’s painting.
The Tradition of Passing Possessions Down Generations
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The Hanging Heirloom
With any special family heirloom there is always a backstory to it, giving it its own version of value.
When Rose inherited this beautiful picture, she felt an instant connection to it. This wasn’t just any old picture that was in her grandmother’s house, it actually hung right above her bed for all these years.
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As all of this was happening, Rose was getting ready to go to college. She thought it would be perfect to hang above her bed in the dorms, just like her grandmother did in her house.
The Significance of the Artwork's Backstory
It’s never easy when we lose a family member, and coping is always such a unique process. But when we have something to remember them by, it can definitely help with that process.
Because Rose felt such a connection to this picture, she started to do some digging on its backstory. When Rose started to learn more and more about the story behind this treasured heirloom, she quickly discovered that the backstory of the picture was just as meaningful.
Screenshot from "Antiques Roadshow PBS"/Youtube
Soon she would discover that this particular picture had so much more meaning than a possession that belonged to her grandmother.
Family History of the Heirloom
What makes a piece of artwork valuable isn’t just the artwork itself. It’s about the inspiration, the backstory, the style, the artist.
But before learning about the story of the artist and the artwork itself, Rose learned about her family’s history with the painting.
When Rose’s grandmother received the painting, she was just around the same age as her.
It was a beautiful piece of artwork depicting the tranquility of Native Americans traveling down a mountain.
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“Her dad, I’m guessing, would’ve given it to her after she spend the summer at a dude ranch, when she was 19, in like the ‘40s,” Rose shared with PBS.
Digging Deeper to Discover the Backstory
The beautiful piece of artwork was gifted to Rose’s grandmother by her own father – Rose’s great-grandfather – when she was a teenager. The painting clearly held a lot of sentimental value for Rose and her family, which is why she got so interested in learning more about it.
And the deeper Rose dug into discovering it all, the more fascinating this picture seemed to be – especially because of the artist himself.
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So along with some sentimental value, the family thought it might be worth checking out if it had some financial value, too.
Can You Put a Price Tag on Something Priceless?
The piece of artwork was clearly priceless considering the fact that it was such a personal item that Rose’s grandmother owned. However, when the family learned that the piece was created by a well-known painter, they were interested in seeing how much it was actually worth.
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The family got the picture appraised twice, and both times the appraisers claimed that the painting was a print, and not an original. Which meant that the picture wasn’t worth as much as an original, but still had some value. Can you really put a price tag on something priceless, though?
Discovering the Artist
The artist of the painting was a well-known 19th century American painter named Henry Francois Farny (H.F. Farny), known for his depictions of Native American tribes.
Although there were many artists in that time depicting Native American life, he was known from staying away from adding conflict to his artwork. He enjoyed illustrating the Native Americans in their natural, tranquil environment and it quickly became his signature style.
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So when the family decided to get an estimation of the price value of this painting, the appraisers claimed it to be a print of an original. But how much exactly was the picture worth then?
The Price Value of the Painting
As we mentioned before, the picture was appraised twice. In 1998 it was estimated to be auctioned at around $200. This might seem like a decent profit on a printed copy of a painting, but, of course, the family didn’t see it fit to sell this precious possession.
However, a few years later in 2004, the family participated in another general house appraisal where the picture was estimated to be worth $250. Still though, it didn’t seem right or worth to be selling something so valuable to them at such a low-cost.
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A few more years had passed by, and that’s when Rose had finally inherited the piece herself.
Something a Little Bit Off
As soon as Rose received this family prized possession, she felt so honored. She had received it at around the same age that her grandmother did, and wanted to keep above her bed when she went off to college, just as her grandmother did in her home.
Screenshot from "Antiques Roadshow PBS"/Youtube
She noticed that there was something a little bit off with the picture though. Upon further inspection, it didn’t look like a speck of dust or a dirty finger print. It actually looked like something was hiding underneath the glass.
What Was Caught in the Cover?
She looked closely at the picture and realized that something was caught under the glass cover. “When I got it, there was a mosquito underneath the glass,” Rose explained on PBS. Uh oh!
Without hesitation, she figured it was best to try and get the mosquito out of the glass. After all, who wants to see a mosquito smudge up against a beautiful piece of art right before they go to bed every night?
Screenshot from "Antiques Roadshow PBS"/Youtube
But as soon as Rose removed the cover and opened the painting, she was taken aback by what was actually beneath the glass!
“It Kind of Scared Me a Little”
“I took it out to the front yard and I opened it up to get the mosquito out, so I could take it with me to college. And then it kind of scared me a little,” Rose explained on PBS.
What could be so terrifying to find beneath the glass?
Image by Gabriel Gabriel / Unsplash
We know that some people aren’t fond of insects or bugs, but if Rose was willing to remove the mosquito on her own, it doesn’t seem like this would be something to fear. So what could it be?
The Biggest Mistake or the Best Decision
It seemed like Rose had things under control when she decided to go outside and remove the mosquito caught within the frame of the picture. So why did she claim to be instantly scared as soon as she removed the cover? Was the little insect she found not a mosquito? Was there a hidden message beneath the glass?
Screenshot from "Antiques Roadshow PBS"/Youtube
Within seconds, Rose realized that opening the picture might have either been the biggest mistake or the best decision she could have ever made.
“I Closed It Back Up Immediately”
Rose carefully took apart the frame in order to retrieve and remove the mosquito and salvage the family heirloom.
On the bottom of the painting, there it was - the painter's autograph!
Rose explained that as soon as she disassembled the cover from the painting, she was startled at what she had discovered. “I closed it back up immediately, because it looked like it might be real.”
All these years of the family thinking that this was just a print copy of an original H.R. Farny painting was now in question.
Screenshot from "Antiques Roadshow PBS"/Youtube
Was this an actual piece of artwork hand-painted by the famous H.R. Farny himself?
Second Guessing
Rose could not believe what she had just discovered. For years and years, the family was fooled into thinking that they had just an ordinary print copy of an original painting.
And if this was true, if this painting truly was an original, which meant that it was probably worth much more than a couple hundred bucks.
She started to second-guess if it was a good idea to take with her to college after all or not.
Screenshot from "Antiques Roadshow PBS"/Youtube
You know what that means? It was time to turn to a professional for help.
Did This Mosquito Just Reveal a Masterpiece
Both times that the family had the picture looked at by a professional appraiser, it was claimed to be a “copy” and estimated to be for a couple hundred dollars. But when Rose removed the glass cover to get rid of the annoying bug that made its way into the picture, she was left standing there asking herself: did this mosquito just reveal a masterpiece?
Screenshot from "Antiques Roadshow PBS"/Youtube
She wasn’t going to take any chances, she made sure to see a highly-valued professional appraiser. And where better to do it than at one of the auction expos on the show Antiques Roadshow?
Hoping That One Man’s Trash Might Be Another Man’s Treasure
For those of you who aren’t caught up to speed on Antiques Roadshow, don’t worry we’re here to help!
Screenshot from "Antiques Roadshow PBS"/Youtube
Antiques Roadshow is a well-loved show by those who are all about antiques and history. The purpose of the show is to bring in people who have potentially valued– and provide them with appraising services by professionals – basically in the hopes that one man’s trash might be another man’s treasure. The show is international and set up events in multiple cities each season.
Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center
Rose was in luck! They happened to be shooting a series of the show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center. She was more than ready to get the show on the road and get a final answer on the picture’s true value.
Screenshot from "Antiques Roadshow PBS"/Youtube
We’re sure the suspense of waiting around was agonizing, but at the end of the day, she would know the truth. And truly, all that mattered to her was to make sure that her grandmother’s wishes would be fulfilled.
Factually, Mentally, and Emotionally Prepared
We’re sure the suspense of waiting around was agonizing, but at the end of the day, she would know the truth. She took the time to learn about the artist and the picture’s backstory before talking to the appraiser.
Despite the fact that she wasn’t sure if this painting was an original or not, she was there to find out the truth about it and its true value. Maybe the other appraisers were right, and it really was just a copy. But the only way to find out was through this meeting with professional appraiser Meredith Hilferty.
Screenshot from "Antiques Roadshow PBS"/Youtube
Rose was factually, mentally, and emotionally prepared for this meeting. Or so she thought.
Meredith the Appraiser
Meredith Hilferty is a professional appraiser specializing in both metalwork & sculpture, as well as, paintings & drawings. Meaning she was the real deal and more than qualified to help Rose conquer her quest and solve the mystery of her grandmother’s cherished painting.
Screenshot from "Antiques Roadshow PBS"/Youtube
It was finally Rose’s turn to meet with Hilferty, and she felt confident and sure that what she discovered about this painting was true. And although you might expect a meeting like this to be a quick discussion over the price value, the conversation can get a lot heavier than that.
The First Round of Questions
This conversation wasn’t just about finding out the true value of the painting, it was about authenticating it, as well. So, in order to break the ice and get the suspenseful ball rolling, Meredith started off the conversation by asking Rose the backstory of the painting.
Screenshot from "Antiques Roadshow PBS"/Youtube
Full of confidence, Rose began explaining the sentimental value behind the picture and how she had inherited it from her grandmother. From her heart-warming story of her grandmother hanging the picture above her bed all these years to the initial and secondary appraisal offers that the family received in the past, Rose was confidentially telling her story with ease and flow. Round one was a knock-out!
Rose’s Research on the Artist
Meredith followed up by asking another set of questions about the artists and artwork itself. Rose didn’t know too much information, but again, Rose explained everything she did know calmly and confidentially to Meredith.
Image by Wikipedia
“I know he was born in France and then he moved to northern Pennsylvania,” Rose shared, “so he could have been in the area at the time when he was painting it, when it was given to my grandmother.”
‘Long Boots’ Signature Circle
If you take a close look at the signature on the bottom on the painting, you will see that it says H.F. Farny with a small circle under the “R” in his last name. Rose knew exactly how and why the artists did that too! “He moved out to Ohio, but he had associations with like, the Sioux Tribe. So, they actually adopted him in, and they gave him a cipher ‘Long Boots’. And that’s what that little circle underneath his signature is.”
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It seemed like round two’s set of questions were going well, but now it was Meredith’s turn to validate it all.
Unraveling the Truth about the Treasured Heirloom
Rose had given Meredith the entire spiel on everything she had learned from her research until now. But now it was time to turn the tables and listen to what Meredith had to say about everything.
Can you imagine what Rose must have been feeling? This wasn’t just about learning if this portrait was authentic or not. It wasn’t just about the true value of the piece itself. It was about revealing the truth about this treasured family heirloom.
Screenshot from "Antiques Roadshow PBS"/Youtube
Rose was clearly an ambitious, confident young woman, but was she ready to unravel the secret behind this painting?
The First Truth Revealed
Meredith went on to reassure and affirm that Rose did in fact get the basic story true. It was surely a welcomed relief that Rose was correct so far.
Farny was born in France and moved to Pennsylvania when he was about six years old. “When he was living in Pennsylvania, he began a relationship with the Seneca Indians, and that’s really where his fascination with the different tribes began,” Meredith clarified.
Image by Henry Farny / Wikipedia
The first truth that Meredith revealed was the backstory of the artist. But was the backstory of this photograph correct?
The Second Truth Revealed
Meredith established that Rose’s research was much spot on.
“He did eventually spend a lot of time with the Sioux Indians, and they did adopt him and gave him the name Long Boots,” Meredith confirmed with Rose.
“This piece is really interesting because it’s a dense group of figures, which is very desirable in his work… This is really his most prolific time,” Meredith further explained. From the early 1890s, Farny truly started to develop as an artist and had some of his best years.
Image by Henry Farny / Wikipedia
So, was it an actual masterpiece of Henry Francois Farny?
So Far, So Good
Are you as excited, yet anxious as we are for Rose? So far, it seemed like her gut was right and that this painting was so much more than what her family had thought for years. You can almost taste the third truth being revealed – that this was in fact an original and not a copy.
Screenshot from "Antiques Roadshow PBS"/Youtube
Rose tried to contain herself from excitement and joy, but she never would have expected what was going to happen next. So, what were Meredith’s final thoughts about this piece?
Meredith’s Final Reveal
Meredith was a specialist when it came to artworks like the one Rose had brought it. After explaining in detail about the artist and the piece of artwork itself, she went ahead and suggested the financial value of the painting.
“So if we were going to put this in an auction today, I would suggest an estimate of $200,000-$300,000.”
When Meredith said “200”, it seemed to make sense with Rose – it was an estimate her family had heard before. But as soon as Meredith directly followed along with the word “thousand”, Rose’s heart stopped. Two hundred, thousand dollars as a low bid?
Screenshot from "Antiques Roadshow PBS"/Youtube
But what happened next was even more unbelievable.
From Two Hundred to Two Hundred Thousand
As soon as Meredith revealed to Rose that this was, in fact, an original painting by the well-known H.F. Farny, a flood of emotions ran through her. The whole entire conversation Rose was poised, cool, calm, and collected.
Screenshot from "Antiques Roadshow PBS"/Youtube
But in that very moment, when she realized that her act of removing the mosquito was actually an act of revealing a masterpiece, she broke down into tears. Who would have ever expected this turn of events to lead her to such an amazing find? Can you imagine if the family had sold it for a whopping $200?
“So, I Can’t Hang it Up?”
Through all of the emotions and deep exhales, Rose was trying to wrap her head around the whole situation. She couldn’t believe how much this picture was worth. Trying to wipe away the waterworks and hiding from the cameras, she chuckled and asked “so, I can’t hang it up?”
Screenshot from "Antiques Roadshow PBS"/Youtube
Though she was relieved and excited, she was also trying to process the fact that it was most likely not the best idea to bring it to the college dorms with her. Seeing as that would be a huge risk, what about the fact that she had exposed the painting and removed the mosquito? Did that do any damage to the painting?
Doing the Job of a Conservator
Meredith was kind, respectful, and patient as Rose was trying to process it all and collect herself. She was used to clients getting emotional about their family heirlooms and discovering that someone’s “junk” was someone else’s “treasure.”
So far, Rose’s instincts have been great when it came down to this painting. But when she took removed the dreadful mosquito from the back of the frame, was that a mistake?
Screenshot from "Antiques Roadshow PBS"/Youtube
“It’s actually not a bad idea that you took the bug out. Ultimately, we would like for a conservator to do that,” Meredith admitted, “But the bug could’ve continued to decay and caused a stain or something that you could’ve probably had a conservator work on. But, no, it’s good that the bug wasn’t there anymore.”
Third Time’s the Charm
This heart-warming discovery just added to the sentimental story and value of the picture. It was never confirmed if Rose actually auctioned and sold her painting or not, but at the end of the day, all she wanted to know was the truth about this magnificent piece of history.
Screenshot from "Antiques Roadshow PBS"/Youtube
Whether her grandmother knew all along the true value or just enjoyed the tranquil piece of art, Rose always kept her best wishes in mind. And if anything at all, this was a good lesson that getting a third opinion is always a good idea.
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