Featured Original Art from late 1800s - How does varnishing (for a repair) change value?

We have a original Harold Bell Wright painting from the late 1800s. The painting was repaired in 1992 by previous owner and was finished with a clear varnish.
The question is how does varnishing a original piece of art change the value?
The repair was slight.
It is painted on wood.
Thank you for your help.

 

The only Harold Bell Wright I can find was a writer, not an author. Are you sure of attribution? Is your painting signed?

Debora

 

Please post up details of the repair, any signature or writings, the varnish in the light, the back and sides, +how large is this?

 

Great question regarding the authenticity of the painting. Harold Bell Wright was a extremely well known author (The Shepherd of the Hills and others) and he was friends with a family by the last name of Taylor. HBW sent the Taylors many letters from the early 1900s until near his death (we have letters as well). In the late 1800s, HBW was recovering from a broken leg in the Taylor home and while in this home completed several paintings. Very few paintings are outside of the Wright family and we could only find one that is actually on loan through the Wright family in the HBW museum in Branson, MO. HBW did not sign all of his art... this was common for HBW.

 

So he painted this landscape from inside the home? From memory? View from a window? Copying another work? And where was the Taylor home?

Debora

 

He was born in 1872 so in late 1880s would still be a teenager.

Debora

 

Assuming the repair was done sensitively with removable archival varnish, it should enhance the value of a damaged piece. If any old varnish was slapped on, it remains to be seen.

 

HBW was not well known at the time of this painting so there is no way to answer these questions. It may be common now to know these answers, but this is over 100 years ago and he was not known for art or much of anything else at the time of the paintings. I can contact the Taylor family to learn more about the location. Answering your other questions would be speculation...

 

Late 1800s... not 1880s.

 

Assume this is the Branson painting.

Debora

 

Apologies for the typo. Late 1800s. He would have been a college student or recent grad.

Debora

 

From what I am told, this is in his museum in Branson, MO.

This is the one we know about. This was in a blog from 8 years ago.
When HBW gave up his art, he burned most of his paintings.

 

First let me thank you for responding to the actual question...
It was done through a professional at the time.

 

Fascinating. How interesting to have both work and letters. I suppose you've read his autobiography then? Covering, per Kirkus Review, his "attempts at earning a living through sketching, writing, and preaching."

Debora

 

Thank you for this information... I am very confident this was never reproduced in any way as it was a personal gift to the family and probably only left the wall it was hanging on to be repaired/varnished in early 90s or when the family moved.
Our next step is finding a accurate valuation.