AIBU to buy the painting?

[thegreenlight]

I have fallen in love with a large oil portrait of a beautiful late Georgian woman - I only live in a 3 bed semi and having lots of renovation work done soon. With architect fees we are tight (renovation money coming when remortgage goes through early next year) but it’s always been my ambition to own a proper portrait of a Georgian lady (I have a deep interest in social history and costume of that specific period) she is honestly the most beautiful thing I have seen in my life. I never thought it was something I could achieve. It’s a big birthday for me early next year - should I get her? She’s on reserve right now, DH has said yes but I’ve never spent this much money on myself before. Am I crazy even to consider it?

I'd go for it. What a perfect way to mark your big birthday. I don't think it's a ridiculous amount of money to invest in something you really love - it's the equivalent of a new piece of furniture, and it will make the same kind of upgrade to your living environment (and in fact will last longer than most furniture).

If you can afford it without breaking the bank then why not? It’s not my thing at all but then people would be horrified by the things dh and I spend money on! (Dh is very into tattoos and travels round the country visiting the best tattoo artists - he’s literally had his mostly his whole body done now, his last tattoo cost £2k ish, so essentially the same as your painting)! We’re all different and if it brings you happiness go for it.

My Mum used to love art and had all sorts of expensive and weird stuff hanging around. I’ve got it all tucked behind a sofa in the spare room now; it’s not my thing at all! But I can’t stand to get rid of any of it.

Could you offer £1100 and see if you can knock some money off? Always haggle with art as it's so subjective.

If she brings you joy and happiness i’d go for it! You won’t regret it and it will be like a family heirloom. Something to treasure.

Buy it! Buying an original painting is similar to putting money in the bank except you can enjoy it more.

I thing terrible comes up when you Google reviews which is good.
It's not for me personally but I do think there's merit in buying unique things that you love - i as a poor student bought two things (a limited Ed print and a portrait of me done outside a church in Venice) and they have come everywhere and hung on lots of walls thirty plus years later.

*nothing not i thing

If it’s worth it to you, then it’s worth it

I have several original pieces I’ve bought over the years (no one famous) and the possible resale value is irrelevant. It’s worth it to me to be able to look at it each day.

Buy The Painting!

It makes me smile to hear how much you love it - you will regret not buying it - you found something that brings you absolute joy - don't let it go!

You should get her. It's an investment and something you will keep forever and could pass onwards for other people to enjoy.

OP, If the painting speaks to you and will make your house a home, you should get it!

She isn't holding her boob, it's a pine cone.

Apparently the pine cone symbolises enlightenment - I like her even more now. I’m amazed you can see a pine cone! I must have a rubbish computer screen!

OP, I can still remember an antique piece of jewellery I could have just about afforded at a squeeze, when I bought my first flat nearly 30 odd years ago. I thought I was being sensible and bought something boring, forgettable and long gone for the kitchen instead.

I can still remember that brooch and still regret not buying it. Buy that painting! (I'm wondering if it could do with a bit of a clean when you get it though? It would bring the colours up vividly I bet).

@thegreenlight I used to work in the biz...

Have you seen the painting in the flesh? They can look quite different on photos. Just to check you love it as much in real life...

Does the dealer know which house it came from? Is it a big one? Is there an inventory number

These things do contribute to the value, but for you mainly for the interesting information! If it's been in the same family forever you may be able to identify the sitter with some digging. Could be interesting to know

Buy it. You really like it and its a good long term investment against inflation

OP have you not seen it in RL?

If you can afford it and you think it will bring you joy then go for it.

I would absolutely see it in the flesh before parting with any money though.

Of course you should buy it! Agree that seeing it in RL is best if at all possible, and having it professionally cleaned too, which will reveal much more detail.

I have been collecting art for the last three decades, and now have over 40 original works, all bought with love.

My most treasured piece is this pastel painting of “Danish Barque on tow” by John M Groves RSMA, bought eight years ago, from a gallery I used to frequent, and was good friends with the owner, so got a good discount - it cost £2000, but as soon as I saw it, I fell in love with it. As a lapsed pastellist, I could appreciate the skill needed to depict all the fine details (done with pastel pencils) showing the men on the rigging, and the misty morning light reflecting on the water. It’s quite large at 54x76 cms, and has pride of place in my sitting room.

She could have been an awful person in real life!

She’s lovely. I’m also a sucker for a good painting. If you can afford it and it speaks to your heart as much as your posts suggest it does, then please buy it. You’ll love it forever. Like other posters, I have screenshots and pictures on my phone of art that I’ve not bought and regretted over the years. I’ve got lots of lovely paintings but there’ve also been a fair few ‘loved and lost’.

that’s such an atmospheric piece @NanTheWiser. My grandmother collected paintings and prints like that, mostly repro’s, nothing really of any value, so seeing yours really takes me back

Buy her. I have a couple of limited edition prints that didnt cost me that much but I look at them every day and enjoy them

@LynneBenfield thank you for your appreciation! I am very much a traditionalist when it comes to art, (I’m 75), and have many landscapes and still life’s. All bring me joy.

Get her or you will regret it.

About 25 years ago we had just moved to hopefully our for-ever house (still there) and we had a whole list of things we still needed to buy / replace. However on a short holiday in France we were passing an artist's studio and saw a sculpture in the window of a naked pregnant lady. We both thought it was beautiful but the shop was shut for lunch so we had a couple of hours to think about it.

We decided we were still interested and went back later and inside the shop we saw more sculpture by the same artist in clouding another of the same lady but not pregnant. We liked this even more. She was North of £300 which at the time was enough for a large chest freezer and several other items on our "need to buy" list. However we reasoned we could wait for the freezer and buy it anytime but the sculpture we could only buy that day. So we got her.

Never regretted it, she still has pride of place on the mantelpiece and we are two freezers on from there now.