Pennsylvania Impressionist School

Whether you are just starting out collecting art or if you are a veteran collector, purchasing a work of art from the Pennsylvania school is a sound investment. Aside from being hot commodities the paintings of this school are a stunning look at the wide variety of beautiful vistas of the New Hope, Pennsylvania area.

The Pennsylvania Impressionists were a group of artists who gathered in New Hope, Pennsylvania in the early twentieth century. They are known for their plein air depictions of the townscapes and surrounding landscapes of Bucks County, especially around the Delaware River. Some of the well known artists of the movement were Walter Emerson Baum, John Fulton Folinsbee, Nate Dunn, Fern Coppedge, George Sotter, Edward Redfield, Walter E. Schofield, Daniel Garber, and Roy Cleveland Nuse. The movement is also known as the Late Pennsylvania School.

Since the early 1980’s, when collectors began to take a keen interest, the Pennsylvania Impressionist’s market has steadily increased. Within twenty years of the collecting boom paintings by artists such as Edward Redfield and Daniel Garber were achieving auction prices of a $500,000 and up. Even with the current downturn in the economic market the art market for these artists has not been greatly affected.

Art Directives has had the privilege of appraising many paintings from the Pennsylvania Impressionist School. One client inherited a painting by Pennsylvania Impressionist Daniel Garber. When we inspected the painting we discovered that not only was the piece itself very valuable but, unknown to our client, it was housed in a Frederick Harer frame. Frederick Harer made the frames for many of the Pennsylvania Impressionist painters. His style encompasses subtle designs and straight lines with a gilt finish. Our client was delighted to find out that the painting was appraised for Replacement Value at well over $100,000 and the frame itself was appraised at $14,000.

If the artwork of the Pennsylvania Impressionists is already part of your collection or if you plan on purchasing to add to your collection make sure to have the works appraised. An appraisal will ensure that proper insurance coverage can be obtained to protect your paintings from loss. If you own any works by artists in this school and are interested in selling, an appraisal will help determine what you will be able to sell the works for in today’s market.