They say a picture’s worth a thousand words. For a Kentucky doctor, his newly purchased painting is worth dollars… possibly 250 thousand of them.
As an ophthalmologist, Dr. Jim Huffman will tell you a good eye is invaluable. And now, he has a story to prove it.
“My wife and I like to go to Lexington and visit antique shops.” Said Huffman.
Little did he know the treasure he was about to purchase.
“It was 900 dollars and I said well this is a good alternative for me. And it turned out to be a lot better than I thought it was.”
The jaw dropping news came in an appraisal by a restoration expert in Cincinnati, “we had people give me estimates anywhere from 50 to 70 to two hundred and fifty.”
That’s 250-thousand dollars. It’s because of what a little cleaning uncovered.
“He said well when we were cleaning it we found a signature and it’s a pretty important artist. And I said you’re kidding. And he said no it’s Robert Scott Duncanson who was the first African American painter to make a living painting. He’s a very well known artist for this area.” Said Huffman.
He himself dated it 1868.
One of his paintings belonged to queen Victoria, others are on display in the Smithsonian.
And this one is temporarily on loan to the speed art museum in Louisville. Loan being the key word there.
“Just the fact that he was alive and painting during the civil war was special. So I don’t think I’ll ever sell it. I’ve been trying to see if I can find some more deals, but I don’t think I’ll ever find another deal like that.”