Four friends in Owen Sound are hoping a painting they bought on Ebay will turn into millions of dollars.
Ron Flarity, Blair Mooney, Ken Marshall and Helen Flarity bought a painting off Ebay in May of 2007 that apparently was done by the legendary Edward Hopper.
60 year old Ron Flarity believes — with out a doubt in his mind — it’s the real deal.
The group has spent more than 40 thousand dollars over the last six years on expert opinions, advice and a series of tests.
Flarity says they have more than 100 people working on authenticating the oil painting – but everything seems to hinge on one person – at least for the time being.
The foremost Hopper expert, New York Historian, Gail Levin.
According to Flarity, Levin refuses to put her signature on the painting because she doesn’t believe something so priceless could be bought on Ebay for 585 USD.
The oil painting, which depicts two women and a dog outside of a sun blasted house, currently rests in a vault at TD Bank in Owen Sound.
Flarity says “you couldn’t afford the insurance” on a piece of art like that.
He adds that privately owned Hopper paintings are quite rare — fetching anywhere from 10 to 27 million dollars at auctions.
Flarity says he has received calls from smaller auction houses interested in selling the work.
He says he wants it to go to auction in New York — but they won’t take it without Levin’s signature.
The painting resembles Edward Hoppers “High Noon” painting — estimated to be worth 30 to 40 million dollars — which currently resides at the Dayton Art Institute in Ohio.
The group will hold on to the painting for the time being — although Flarity has no doubt in his mind he could see it for a pretty penny right now.
