Washington Portrait, Once Ignored, Now Up For Auction

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Feb 18th 2010 at 9:02PM

I'm a sucker for the priceless piece in the attic stories. I think a lot of people are, it fuels our fantasies that treasure might exist right under our noses. That's certainly the case in the story of Oliver Chanler who paid little attention to a George Washington portrait hanging in his parents library. He assumed that the painting was a copy but found out around 10 years ago that the picture is actually an original Gilbert Stuart. Stuart's paintings of Washington hang in museums around the U.S. and some sell deep in the millions. That won't be true of this one, the smaller piece is up for sale on March 27 through Cottone Auctions in Geneseo, N.Y. with an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. The painting has never been restored or cleaned. Chanler happens to be related to the the United States' first multimillionaire, John Jacob Astor, so the provenance seems assured and it could be possible that Astor was the original owner of the painting. Chanler's great-grandfather, John Winthrop Chanler, who served in the House of Representatives definitely owned the work.

Tags: art, art auction, ArtAuction, george washington, GeorgeWashington, gilbert stuart, GilbertStuart

Filed under: Auctions, Art

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

reallytorkedoff Feb 19th 2010 11:38PM

Sigh. I have nothing but dust and insulation in my attic.

keep it real Feb 20th 2010 6:35AM

You got insulation? Count your blessings

melissa Feb 20th 2010 8:31AM

Too, funny! But, sadly I am in the same boat!

M Feb 20th 2010 10:40AM

Sighhhh..the attic is my home. :(

Tommy Feb 20th 2010 11:35AM

At least you have insulation-LOL

Colonel Sanders Feb 20th 2010 12:33PM

Do Readers Digests in my toilet and Playboy Magazines under my bed count as a Library?

WTF? Feb 20th 2010 1:56PM

What! You have an attic? Can I move in?

reallytorkedoff Feb 20th 2010 3:47PM

What a sorry art-treasure-in-the-attic-less bunch we are.

duffhessian1776 Feb 21st 2010 2:21AM

attic???? wow, must be nice! i live in a tent in the "big sandbox." we don't have closets, either.

momo79th Feb 20th 2010 6:39AM

This is most definitely NOT one of those "priceless pieces in the attic" stories. Those stories do not include relatives of John Jacob Astor nor do they include people who find their "pieces" in their parents' library! The fact that this man's parents have a LIBRARY in their home tells you that this story should have been referred to as "the rich get richer" story.

eri5426301 Feb 20th 2010 8:54AM

good one

Bjray341 Feb 20th 2010 10:00AM

You are correct. I agree with your title for that interesting story.

CJ Feb 20th 2010 10:43AM

Big old homes can have a library and be in a middle class neighborhood with middle class owners. My Grandparents were4 middle class and lived in a house that had a library.

Lillian May Feb 21st 2010 4:04AM

I agree with CJ. The current owner of this painting may not be wealthy at all. After so many generations, it's possible that he's just a middle class American. Too bad the article didn't tell us much about him!

Cheryl Feb 21st 2010 1:41PM

oh please..........just stop bemoaning the rich................just because a wealthy person passes their earned wealth to others, why are so many unable to resist being totally jealous................it's just the cards of the hand of life...........stop moaning.

momo79th Feb 20th 2010 6:50AM

This is most definitely NOT one of those a " priceless piece in the attic" stories. Those stories do not include relatives of John Jacob Astor nor do they include people who find their priceless pieces in their parents' library. The fact that this man's parents have a LIBRARY in their home tells you that this article should have been referred to as "the rich get richer" story. Sorry Deidre, no heartwarming feelings here.

mcinnisja Feb 20th 2010 7:07AM

looks like Glenn Close

karlthewanderer Feb 21st 2010 1:31PM

Maybe this is why my sister- in law claims there's $50,000.00 worth of personal property in my deceased mother- in- laws $44,000.00 house. That or she's the psyco b!@#$ I always thought she was.

Lgcoach77 Feb 20th 2010 2:06PM

Where do u go to get a honest estimate of what u think might b of value. It seems difficult to take an item of value to anyone and have them tell u it has some value. They tell u it aint worth crap and offer u nothing ony to turn around a recoup the value of it of it themsleves. honestly if u know of a trusted appraiser let me know. I have some things such as very old tools I mean over 100 years old yet i never can get an honest apraisal.

Dick Feb 20th 2010 8:09AM

Things are worth what someone will pay. But if you have old tools check into Mid-West Tool Collectors Assoc. You can find them on the web. My dad was a member.

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