An Antique Oil Painting May Come Into Its Own As An Investment

Many people who operate in the upper reaches of the financial world regard an antique oil painting as a great investment. Very wealthy people sometimes collect paintings and in the corporate world it has become fashionable for firms to furnish board rooms that are both works of art and also considerable investments. Although major works by painters such as Rubens and Renoir are mostly owned by governments and nations there is nevertheless a healthy market for private collectors. Private individuals and some corporations with money to invest attend auctions either personally or through agents and pay very considerable sums to own a masterpiece. They understand the investment and aesthetic value of works that might grace a board room or private collection and at the same time constitute a growing asset.
In 2006 a work by Jackson Pollock, painted in 1948, was sold for $156.8 million. The price, when compared with the cost of materials used in the work is quite a dramatic illustration of why artists are actually among the highest earning professionals. They or their heirs are usually higher earners than the accountants, business people or investors who buy their works. The pecuniary worth of their work rests in rarity, originality and reputation. The real worth may have been best expressed by John Keates who pointed out that beauty and truth are synonymous.
An anecdote might serve to illustrate a point about why artists are special. A youth who enjoyed painting quick links wanted to make it his career. His father, a wealthy scientist, dismissed the idea contemptuously, advising his son that art was for 'no-brainers'. In doing so he demonstrate an attitude that prevails commonly in materialistic societies. The boy gave up and became a lawyer instead. If he had been a genuine artist he might have persisted. Many stories depict the incredible courage and dedication of real artists. They persist through poverty and hopelessness driven by something greater than themselves to create things greater than themselves.
Art investments might fall into many different genres but oil paintings are popular. They are portable, especially if painted on canvas, require relatively little maintenance and do not tend to attract the attentions of tax collectors, unless traded. Ownership of them affords economic, social and intellectual satisfaction. A painting graces a room every day and grows in value as it does so.
As a medium oil is favored for several reasons over water colors, acrylics and other mediums. It allows an artist to work slowly, adding textures and light that will endure without fading. It is said that one of Van Gogh's famous paintings survived a considerable time as the floor of a chicken coop before being recovered and returned to its pristine state. The Internet is a great way to find an oil painting that may be affordable and worthwhile. Although hand painted copies of great works may be bought online they are probably not good investments because they cannot easily be resold. An original work by a little known artist could be a better investment if it pleases. The pleasure that it gives will be worth what was paid for it and if the artist becomes famous its aesthetic worth may be enhanced by a considerable fortune.