Painting portrait of an old man by American painter Johan Singer Sargent 1856-1925 oil on canvas. Panel signed center right J. Singer. My father said that this signature was ordered by the buyer to hide the value of the painting and to protect it from theft in the First World War, and my grandfather also said that the original signature was on the top of the painting on the right side, which was covered with this for the same reasons, so that it would not be known. It has been kept in a very healthy condition
Dimensions
685x480 mm
Acquired From:
Inherited
Dear Amir, Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry. The presented object appears to be an oil on canvas painting, depicting an old man with a white beard and a black hat in an Orientalist style. The painting measures approximately 68.5 x 48cm and has been attributed to the American painter John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) due to the presence of the signature "J. Singer" above the sitter's left shoulder. This piece is in good condition and no severe damage is visible in the images provided. Though it does bear some stylistic similarity to the artist's work, there are some noticeable differences. Additionally, the signature is atypical and the details provided about how and when it was added to the canvas are unclear. Based on recently achieved auction results for similar works positively attributed to John Singer Sargent, if the authenticity of the presented object is supported by additional research, the value would be 100,000 to 200,000 USD. However, an attribution of "in the manner of" John Singer Sargent is far more likely and would result in a valuation of approximately 400 to 600 USD. I would strongly recommend that you get in touch with our authentication team by email at authenticate@mearto.com to confirm the authenticity and verify the value of your painting. Thank you again for your inquiry and please let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or concerns. Kind regards, Anne
