Chương 463: Chapter 463: Shocking Robbery
The shock was only a moment, Betty and the others immediately looked at Ye Tian, eagerly looking forward to his comment to determine whether this is Daubigny's painting!
Ye Tian hold it off and asked another question.
"Mr. Walter, when you just appraised this oil painting, you were very professional from beginning to end and you have a deep understanding of the Barbizon school. Obviously, you have done some research.
This is not something an art lover can do! More like a professional, have you ever worked in the field of art collection? Auction house, museum or gallery?
If it is not for collectors and related art majors, then only in these industries can you have a large number of top art works and practice the skills of rapid identification. That's why I have this question!"
Hearing Ye Tian's question, Betty and Logan couldn't help but look at their father.
They were also curious about why their father suddenly gained this skill, they didn't know before.
"Steven, your vision is really sharp and you really deserve it! Yes, I did work in a museum, but that was more than 20 years ago.
Before I got married, I worked at the Gardner Museum for several years, doing management work. During that time, I was exposed to a lot of top art works.
At the time, the Gardner Museum had its own art appraisal experts and I learned this appraisal knowledge from them. It was just a little bit, not an appraisal expert at all.
And in the Gardner Museum's collection, there are two landscape paintings of Daubigny, which are in the same line as this oil painting, so I will be familiar with the Barbizon school and Daubigny!
If switch to other paintings or other artists' works, I'm afraid I won't be able to recognize them. This time I can only say that it's a coincidence and I happened to encounter a relatively familiar artwork."
Matthew explained the reason, his face couldn't help showing a reminiscence of the past.
Evelyn sitting next to him did the same thing and gently held Matthew's hand, turned to look at her husband tenderly, eyes full of affection!
Obviously, they have fond memories in the Gardner Museum.
"So, it's no wonder you are so familiar with the Barbizon school! I know the Gardner Museum. There are indeed a lot of top art works there. The two paintings of Daubigny are quite good!"
Ye Tian suddenly said, the root was originally there.
At this moment, Betty suddenly interjected and asked:
"Dad, why have I never heard you mention this experience? You have never revealed this art appraisal skill? Why didn't you continue at the Gardner Museum later?"
Matthew and Evelyn couldn't help changing their expressions and a hint of pain flashed in their eyes.
Obviously, this issue may have touched their sad past!
After a short pause, Matthew adjusted his mood and began to answer Betty's questions.
"In those few years, when I worked at the Gardner Museum, I did learn something and I also liked that job and my meeting and acquaintance with your mother was at the Gardner Museum!"
"Wow! It turns out that the Gardner Museum is your place to make love. Hurry up and talk about how you chased mother. I will also learn!"
Logan booed and said and instantly resolved the displeasure between Matthew and Evelyn!
"Hahaha"
Everyone laughed and Evelyn glared at Logan and smiled.
The laughter fell slightly and Matthew continued:
"Everything was fine and life was very peaceful. Until 1990, on St. Patrick's Day, there was a terrible robbery at the Gardner Museum with heavy losses. Since then, everything has changed!"
"I know that in that terrible robbery, the Gardner Museum was looted 13 top art pieces worth up to 500 million US dollars, which shocked the whole world.
And the whereabouts of those artworks are still unknown, no one knows where they are! Even when a reward of tens of millions of dollars was offered, there is no information, no news!"
Ye Tian continued, with a bit of regret in his tone.
"US$500 million? That was only an estimate in 1990. If it were put to the present, the combined value of the 13 top art works would be more than US$2 billion!
Vermeer's "The Concert" alone is now worth more than $500 million, not to mention Rembrandt, Degas and Manet, each of which is a top-level artwork! Unique!
It was a group of bastards who robbed the museum. They actually cut Rembrandt's "The Storm on the Sea of Galilee" from the frame with a knife. All these bastards should be thrown into hell!"
Matthew said, biting his molars, very angry.
"Wow! Top art worth 2 billion dollars, this is probably the biggest art robbery, right?"
Logan exclaimed, this kid obviously pays more attention to the market value of art.
"That was indeed the biggest art robbery in history. Unfortunately, the lawsuit has expired. Even if the robbers send the artworks back, they will not be prosecuted!"
Ye Tian continued, with a helpless look on his face.
"After the robbery, the Gardner Museum was closed for a long time. Every staff member was investigated by the FBI countless times, including me. It was really difficult during that period!
At that time, it was not long after I and your mother were married and when the pressure of life was the greatest, under the difficult environment, we quarreled all our lives in that time!"
Matthew said in a low mood and at the same time looked at Evelyn apologetically.
Evelyn returned him with a bright smile, apparently having given up his grudge!
Hearing this, Ye Tian was suddenly stunned.
It turned out that it was because of this that they didn't want to mention that period and Betty and Logan didn't know anything about it.
After a short pause, Matthew continued:
"After the investigation was over, the museum immediately carried out a major exchange of blood. I left the Gardner Museum and changed to a few jobs before finally entering the Boston Public Library.
After leaving the museum, I never had the opportunity to come into contact with top art, let alone appraisal and I didn't want to think about that experience, so I didn't tell you.
What is my level of appraisal, I know very well, except for those familiar artworks, I can't even talk about getting started in other aspects, so I have never revealed this appraisal skill."
Matthew explained the reason for leaving the Gardner Museum and his expression quickly returned to normal.
After all, many years have passed, no matter how painful the experience is, it should fade.
Then Matthew went on to say:
"Well, let's not talk about this, let Steven reveal the answer, I really want to know the information about this oil painting and I want to know whether my appraisal conclusion is correct!"
While speaking, he had already looked at Ye Tian, as did the others.
Ye Tian sorted out his thoughts a bit, then smiled and said:
"Mr. Walter, congratulations. Your appraisal is correct. This is indeed a landscape oil painting by Charles-François Daubigny, a famous French landscape painter and representative of the Barbizon school.
But this is only his early work. It was painted after he arrived in Italy when he was 19 years old. During this time, his painting style has not yet formed. It is still in the exploratory stage and his works are still lacking.
Daubigny's painting style was fully formed and reached its peak when he was between the ages of 47 and 57. These 10 years have been his heyday and his works are the most representative!
In comparison, the oil painting in front of you is a bit close to meaning. It is not a top-level artwork. It is just a pretty good artwork, but it is also worth collecting!"
Before he could say anything, Matthew was already excited and started to celebrate with his fists.
"Wow! Awesome! It's actually a Daubigny landscape painting! It shows that I haven't lost what I learned and my eyesight is still here. This is worth celebrating!"
The other three were equally excited, all cheering and celebrating.
It is not only for this beautiful and moving masterpiece, but also for Matthew's suddenly revealed ability to appraise artworks. It is even more generous to Ye Tian!
After a brief celebration, Logan immediately asked:
"Steven, how much is this oil painting worth? It must be expensive, right? It's a masterpiece after all!"
This is also a question that other people care about. When Logan asked, Betty and the others looked at Ye Tian and everyone's eyes were full of expectation.
Ye Tian didn't hide it either, smiled and said the answer.
"This is an early work of Charles Daubigny's artistic career. Naturally, it cannot be compared with the work of its heyday. The market value will be much lower and it will not reach the price of top art.
Based on market conditions, the size of the oil painting and the depreciation caused by improper maintenance, I estimate the oil painting to be between US$500,000 and US$800,000.
If it is sent to the auction, it may be able to sell for about 1 million US dollars, but it cannot be higher. Of course, it is not ruled out that someone suddenly go crazy and bought this oil painting in a big way!"
"$800,000! Worthy of being a masterpiece, an early 19-year-old painting is so expensive, it's crazy"
Logan exclaimed, and the look in the oil painting suddenly became hotter, even a little hot!
Matthew and Evelyn did the same, both looked at this oil painting in shock.
It's just a landscape oil painting and it can actually be worth the income of their entire family for nearly eight or nine years. It's incredible!
Contrary to them, Betty's expression quickly returned to normal.
She has seen too many antique artworks worth 800,000 dollars and there are several on the table in the study of the New York apartment!
She has seen a lot of top antique artworks that far exceed 800,000 US dollars and naturally she was not be excited by the price of this oil painting!
Ye Tian didn't pause and continued to smile and said:
"For me, the cost of this landscape oil painting was not high. This is a leak I picked up in the New York antique market some time ago. It didn't cost much, only 4,000 US dollars.
Moreover, I am a professional treasure hunter and I have good eyesight and good luck. I will definitely find many such works of art in the future. I am pretty sure of this!"
Hearing this, Matthew and they both nodded.
The eyesight of this guy in front of them is really hard to say, it is almost a nightmare for American antique dealers!
After a short pause, Ye Tian continued to say:
"So when I came to Boston this time, I brought it here and prepared to give it to Mrs. Walter. I hope you don't refuse and accept this gift and I hope you like this gift!
Don't worry about safety. There is no painter's signature on this painting. As long as you don't say it, it is difficult for ordinary people to recognize that this is Daubigny's work, let alone its value!
If you don't want to keep collecting some day and want to change this oil painting to money, just send it to a top auction house like Sotheby's and you will surely get a nice surprise!"
After speaking, Ye Tian gently held Betty's hand and smiled at Matthew and the others.
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