A painting purchased by an art blogger for just $35 as part of a pair has been authenticated as a work by renowned New Zealand artist Frances Hodgkins and is now valued at up to $62,500. The remarkable discovery was made through the BBC One television program 'Fake or Fortune,' which specializes in uncovering the true origins and value of artworks.
Robjn Cantus, who lives near Cambridge, England, bought the painting in 2019 when Hertfordshire County Council sold off its mid-20th century art collection. The artwork was originally attributed to Vera Cunningham, but the BBC program has now discovered its true provenance through extensive research and expert analysis.
Mary Kisler, an art historian from New Zealand and the foremost authority on Frances Hodgkins, told the show: "I emphatically think it is by Frances Hodgkins." Her expertise and authentication have transformed what appeared to be a modest purchase into a significant art discovery.
Cantus acquired the painting in 2019 at an auction as part of Hertfordshire County Council's Pictures for Schools Scheme. The artwork was one of two paintings in the same lot, both attributed to Cunningham at the time. He paid $35 for the pair but was only interested in one of them. Ironically, the painting that would later prove to be by Hodgkins was initially discarded and stored in a barn he used for storage.
The journey to authentication began when Cantus posted a picture of the artwork on his blog. Someone contacted him suggesting they thought it might be a Hodgkins work, sparking his quest to verify the painting's true origins. This investigation eventually led him to appear on 'Fake or Fortune,' where the painting's secrets would finally be uncovered.
Because the painting had no clear provenance, the research process involved art experts, historians, and archivists. BBC Studios presenters Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould worked to uncover the painting's hidden history through meticulous investigation.
Cantus believes the picture might have been damaged while on display at a school, and when it was reframed, the original identification labels on the back of the picture might have been lost. Due to staff changes at the council over the years, when the picture was eventually returned, no one attached a new label identifying it as a Hodgkins work. As a result, it remained unattributed for years, and its true value went unrecognized.
Frances Hodgkins was born in New Zealand but left her homeland in 1901, spending the rest of her life in Europe. A breakthrough in public recognition came in 1929 when her friend and fellow artist Cedric Morris suggested she should be selected for the Seven & Five Society, where she exhibited alongside notable artists including Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson, and Henry Moore. By the 1940s, her work was being praised in the British press. Today, she remains relatively unknown outside her native New Zealand, where galleries have been "very active in buying and repatriating the works," according to Cantus.
The painting discovered by Cantus is typical of Hodgkins' later style, featuring what he describes as "very loose paintings of items like rusty tractors or farmyards." This characteristic style helped experts identify the work as authentic.
Hodgkins expert Mary Kisler conducted a thorough study of the painting, explaining: "You can read Robjn's painting as fitting in to a really large number of Hodgkins's works. When you lay those works side-by-side you can see absolutely that Robjn's work fits among them." Her analysis provided the crucial authentication needed to establish the painting's true value.
Cantus said he was "ecstatic" to hear Kisler's verdict. The expert even speculated about the painting's specific identity, saying: "I do wonder if this is October Landscape," referring to a painting by Hodgkins that had not been found. "I think it's a damn good one – I'd love to have it myself."
Art expert Philip Mould, who co-presents the BBC program with Fiona Bruce, emphasized the significance of Kisler's verification: "[It's] unquestioningly justifying that valuation of $50,000 to $62,500 but also, as a result of this endorsement, it's a picture that hereon will be seen and admired."
Despite the painting's significant value, Cantus said he does not intend to sell it. He expressed satisfaction knowing that it had been "enjoyed by children, seen on walls – that it was toured from school to school" as part of the educational program.
The painting is now believed to depict an old Roman gold mine that Hodgkins painted when she was staying in Wales at the age of 73. "The picture has grown on me immensely," Cantus added. "I don't have any idea where I'm going to put it but I'll find a space somewhere."
In an additional discovery, it was revealed that there was another painting on the reverse side of the one bought by Cantus, and he believes both works are by Frances Hodgkins, potentially making his $35 purchase even more valuable.
A spokesperson for Hertfordshire County Council acknowledged the situation: "It's obviously a bit disappointing to find out that we could have raised more money for local services through the sale of this painting, but we are confident that we took good professional advice on the valuation based on the information available at the time. As Fake or Fortune shows, the art market is unpredictable, with experts often having different views on the same piece."
This discovery highlights the ongoing challenges in art attribution and the potential for significant artworks to remain unrecognized for years. The case demonstrates how proper documentation and expert knowledge are crucial in identifying valuable pieces, and how easily important works can be overlooked when their provenance is unclear or documentation is lost over time.
