Old Master Reproductions - 1Earth Antiques and Appraisals Magazine

Dear 1Earth Antiques,
What makes a copy of an old master worth anything? I have a large copy of Blue Boy and Pinky, both of which are in excellent shape, beautifully framed and over 60 years old. I also have a large Rembrandt, age unknown. I did research on it and found the title: The Man in the Golden Helmet. It is a powerful copy. I have seen other copies that seemed kind of wimpy. This one is very eye-catching. Can you tell me anything about these?
— Lorraine

Dear Lorraine,
Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, copies of these paintings are photographic reproductions. Even if they're old, reproductions like your Blue Boy are so prevalent that they only have decorative value — about $50. With a good frame, they could be worth twice that, but then it's the frame, not the print, that's adding the value.

If you have an actual oil painting, your copy is probably worth a few hundred dollars. Often student artists will copy the works of old masters. It's not unusual to see someone sitting in a museum, copying the art on the wall. And of course the artists themselves frequently had students. Even so, student paintings, even from the 17th-century, have limited value.