Valuation guide

E. Charlton Fortune painting value: what matters

Fortune painted in California, Scotland, Cornwall, France and Italy, and in more than one style, so the value of a given work depends on many things. Below are the points a specialist considers. We don't publish prices: without seeing the painting, any number would be a guess.

Subject

Fortune's best-known paintings are her Monterey subjects of the 1910s: Monterey Bay, the wharf and harbor, gardens, ranches and hillsides. Her European pictures of the 1920s, of St. Ives, St. Tropez and Italy, form a second important group, along with San Francisco's 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition and her portraits. The gallery's recorded sales are Feeding Time, Monterey and Boats, St. Tropez.

Size and support

Fortune painted on canvas and on board, from small panels to large exhibition canvases. Size, support and finish are judged together. Measure the image itself, not the frame.

Period

An inscription, date, place name or label helps fix when a work was made: student work from Edinburgh, London, San Francisco and New York, Monterey summers from 1913 to 1920, Europe from 1921 to 1927, and Monterey again from 1927. Because most of her later career went to liturgical design, easel paintings after the late 1920s are less common.

Condition

Check for flaking, tears, relining, overpaint and darkened or yellowed varnish, and for warping or chipped edges on boards. Leave any treatment to a conservator, after advice.

Labels and provenance

Exhibition and gallery labels, such as those of San Francisco galleries, the Carmel Art Association or European exhibitions, inscriptions on the stretcher or backing, and family records can all strengthen a Fortune's history. Photograph the whole back.

Authenticity

Reproductions and misattributed works do circulate. Signature, technique, materials and documented history are all considered, and a dealer experienced with Early California paintings can quickly say whether a picture merits closer study.

Appraisal and next steps

Steven Stern Fine Arts assesses each painting individually on authorship, period, subject, condition, provenance, exhibition history, literature and importance, and the appraisal is free. To start, send photos through the seller inquiry or call (310) 570-5679. You can also see the Fortune paintings the gallery has sold.

Questions owners ask

How much is an E. Charlton Fortune painting worth?

There is no single figure. Fortune painted at many sizes and on subjects from Monterey to St. Tropez, so values vary a great deal. The gallery can give an informed opinion after seeing photographs and measurements.

Can Steven Stern Fine Arts appraise my Fortune?

Yes. The appraisal is free and confidential. Tell us whether you are thinking of selling or need a formal appraisal for insurance, an estate or a donation.

Is a European Fortune of interest?

Yes. Her paintings of St. Ives, St. Tropez and Italy from the 1920s are an important part of her work; the gallery's recorded sales include Boats, St. Tropez. Send photos and the measurements.

How can I tell whether it is an original?

Fortune's images have been reproduced. A raking-light photograph of the surface usually shows brushwork; we can help you judge.