The artwork, titled *A Field of Bluebonnets, San Antonio*, was originally gifted to Carlotta Preston in 1922 to celebrate her birth. It hung unrecognized for decades until Preston's family researched its origins following her death. Ahead of the June 29, 2024, sale, Preston's grandson safely transported the canvas packed in foam and cardboard on a flight from Seattle to Dallas.
Key points
Carlotta Preston's last-minute choice to keep the painting for its appearance prevented i…: Carlotta Preston's last-minute choice to keep the painting for its appearance prevented it from being donated to Goodwill.
Jared Brinkley carefully packaged the century-old canvas with protective materials to fly…: Jared Brinkley carefully packaged the century-old canvas with protective materials to fly it from Seattle to Dallas.
Julian Onderdonk's celebrated impressionist landscapes are currently featured in major cu…: Julian Onderdonk's celebrated impressionist landscapes are currently featured in major cultural institutions like the San Antonio Museum of Art.
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Sometimes a family heirloom that was forgotten turns out to be worth much more than anyone could have imagined. A 100-year-old painting of Texas bluebonnets that was almost thrown out with donations headed for Goodwill turned out to be a valuable piece of American art. A sentimental family heirloom turned out to be something of a surprise for its owners, who sold it at auction for $112,500, bringing new attention to the legacy of celebrated Texas painter Julian Onderdonk.
Painting saved by last-minute decision
CBS News and The Washington Post reported that the painting was a gift to Carlotta Preston from a distant relative to mark her birth in 1922. The work, finished a year earlier, was kept by the family for decades, with no one identifying its artistic or monetary value.
The painting was almost lost when the family moved from California to Washington state. When relatives helped Preston clear out her belongings in preparation for retirement, several items were loaded onto a trailer to be donated to Goodwill. One of them was the bluebonnet artwork. But Preston changed…
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