Expert: Ben Mahmoud - 3/2/2008

Question
My mother-in law was in the Peace Corps in Fiji.  She brought home a painting by an artist names A. Jn. Michel  The painting is dated 1974.  Any ideas about who the artist is?  Is it of any value?

Answer
You give very little to go on.  Size?  Media? Image?

However, I have done an exhaustive search of the Internet and I have found no reference to A. Jn. Michel.  My guess is that he is one of millions of unknown artists.

If the artist had a presence in the art world, and if his (her) work had every been auctioned in a major art auction house, I would have turned something up.  Alas, no luck there.

Prices of art works are constantly moving up and down depending on the artist and the demand for the work.  Since there are no recorded sales of this artist's work, the only way  you can determine the value of the painting is to put it up for sale.  The highest bidder for the painting will tell you exactly what the work is worth.

You might continue to search the Internet for the artist, and you might come up with something I have missed.

I am sorry that I could not have been of more help to you in this matter.  

Best of luck, Ben Mahmoud