GUEST: Many years ago, I would guess about 1940, my parents used to go to New Hope, outside of Philadelphia, and they saw this painting at a place called Phillips Mill Gallery. And at that time, the artist was showing scenes around Philadelphia. After my parents passed on, their work was passed on to me. And we've enjoyed it ever since.
APPRAISER: And I presume you know who this artist is.
GUEST: George Sotter.
APPRAISER: That's right, George William Sotter.
GUEST: Yes, I've seen the work of Sotter and other New Hope painters who have become international, I guess.
APPRAISER: Well, there's an extremely strong market for them. They're often referred to as either the Pennsylvanian Impressionists or the New Hope School.
GUEST: Yes.
APPRAISER: Or the Bucks County Impressionists. And Sotter was one of the leading artists there, although he was actually born in Pittsburgh.
GUEST: Oh, was he?
APPRAISER: And this one is particularly nice, I think, because it's the kind of Sotter that Sotter buyers really seek. (laughs)
GUEST: Mm-hmm, yes.
APPRAISER: Crucially, it's a nocturne, so it's a night scene.
GUEST: Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER: It's got the snow, which collectors of Pennsylvanian Impressionist paintings tend to like.
GUEST: Right.
APPRAISER: But he's one significant artist out of that group who particularly did these nocturnal scenes. You know, so often with Impressionism, you associate it with broad daylight and sunshine. He was also very well regarded as a stained-glass designer.
GUEST: Oh, is that so?
APPRAISER: And a lot of his work, he did with his wife, and can be seen in churches and cathedrals all over the place.
GUEST: Oh, I say.
APPRAISER: Have you given any thought to value on it? Have you thought about how much it might fetch at auction?
GUEST: My parents, I think, paid just several hundred dollars for the painting, and I don't really know now what it's worth.
APPRAISER: Well, given the current strength of the market for the Pennsylvanian Impressionists, combined with, it's a nocturne, it's got the snow, it's a nice size. I think it would comfortably make $15,000 to $20,000.
GUEST: Is that, oh, is that right?
APPRAISER: Yeah.
GUEST: Well, that's very, very nice to hear.
APPRAISER: Yeah, yeah.
