Antiques Roadshow

GUEST: My wife and I bought it about 30 years ago from a antique dealer in the local area.

She didn't give us any information about it.

It was just a painting that we liked.

APPRAISER: Well, it's always good to buy what you like.

And this is actually a very interesting painting, and we were able today to find a signature.

And the signature reads "P. Lacroix," for Paul Lacroix.

Now, Paul Lacroix was of French-Swiss descent.

He was born in 1827 and he comes to the United States in the late 1840s.

And he shows up in New York, actively painting between 1858 and 1869.

So he really is more considered an American painter rather than a European one since he did most of his work here.

He's most associated with an artist named Severin Roesen, who was of German descent.

And Roesen worked in New York, and it's believed that Lacroix worked with him because their paintings are very, very similar.

After Roesen moves to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Lacroix emerges as an artist on his own.

He also was an artist who exhibited at the National Academy of Design, which was very prestigious, as well as the Brooklyn Art Association.

GUEST: Hm.

APPRAISER: Now, this particular painting was probably done around 1850, or in the early 1850s, so his midcareer.

He died in 1869.

The piece is oil on canvas.

And the frame is also original to the painting.

It's quite a wonderful package when you have the frame and the painting match one another.

You bought it how many years ago did you say?

GUEST: About 30 years ago.

APPRAISER: And what did you pay for it then?

GUEST: Well, it wasn't more than $50.

APPRAISER: Really?

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: A painting like this, if it were sold in a New York or East Coast gallery, today would sell in the range of $15,000.

GUEST: (chuckling): What a surprise.

APPRAISER: (laughs) GUEST: What a surprise!

That is amazing.

Thank you very much.

(chuckles) APPRAISER: Oh, you're welcome!