A Washington state family that nearly donated priceless art to Goodwill decades ago ended up selling the heirlooms at auction last month for six figures.
A majestic painting of Texas bluebonnets by renowned artist Julian Onderdonk sold for $112,500 on Saturday after being in the Brinkley family's collection for more than a century, according to reports.
Jared Brinkley, Carlotta Preston's grandson, told Texas Monthly that the artwork was among a collection of possessions that were set to be donated to Goodwill after he helped Carlotta Preston's family clean out her home before they moved from California to Washington sometime before 2005.
But according to Heritage Auctions, Preston asked for it at the last minute, saying it was “too beautiful to part with.”
Preston's parents received it many years ago as a gift from a relative celebrating the year she was born in 1922.
After Preston died, his daughter, who lives in Washington, brought it home and hung it on the wall of her dining room.
No one knew how valuable the 1921 painting, titled “Bluebonnet Fields of San Antonio,” was until Preston's daughter unearthed it.
“This has been a family heirloom for many years,” Jared Brinkley told the auction house.
“But it was just a decorative piece. We hadn't thought of studying it. And now it should go to someone who will truly appreciate it.”
Onderdonk was born in San Antonio in 1882 and is considered the father of Texas painting.
According to the Texas Historical Association, he came to New York to study art and later returned to Texas, where he became fascinated with painting bluebonnets.
These paintings became some of his most popular and valuable works.
According to Texas Monthly, the canvas Brinkley brought was originally listed for sale for $30,000.
