Two long-lost paintings by American artist Eastman Johnson have been recovered in Connecticut after nearly five decades out of sight. The works, Mary and Her Lamb (1877) and The Young Mother (circa 1872-73), were originally taken from New York galleries in 1978.
The recovery came through the efforts of Milford auction house Shannon's Fine Art Auctioneers, after antiques dealer Brandon Levine identified the paintings in an estate collection earlier this year. Suspecting a connection to Johnson, Levine shared images with the auction house, which then checked the artist's catalog raisonné and confirmed both works were listed as stolen.
The findings were also verified through the Art Loss Register. After the family holding the paintings agreed to return them, Shannon's began the process of reconnecting the works with their rightful owners. One of the paintings was traced back to the family connected to Hirschl & Adler Galleries, while the other was linked to descendants of Kenneth Lux.
Shannon's owner Sandra Germain said the return was handled with unusual cooperation from all sides. She noted that the paintings were received with strong interest and appreciation, reflecting the lasting value of preserving cultural heritage.
Eastman Johnson, often called the "American Rembrandt," was celebrated for his realistic portraits and genre scenes. The recovered paintings are estimated to be worth more than $200,000, underscoring the enduring market and historical importance of 19th-century American art. This recovery may encourage more lost artworks to resurface and re-enter public cultural memory in the years ahead.
