In the early 1900s, a female painter by the name of Pauline Palmer captivated the Chicago art community with her exquisitely executed canvases. After attending art school at the Art Institute of Chicago and continuing her education in Paris, Palmer painted prolifically and exhibited her work all over Chicago and throughout the midwest.
Palmer’s style ranges from realist to impressionist. Some of the artist’s favorite subjects included landscapes, street scenes, beach scenes and portraits. She loved to depict women and children in leisure settings as well more formal portraiture. Like the French Impressionists, Palmer preferred to paint with a soft, pastel palette. Her work gracefully imports the viewer to a scene that is incredibly tranquil, almost even consoling. It is no wonder, then, that The Art Institute of Chicago celebrated Palmer by granting her almost every major award and prize they offered.
Beginning in 1899, the Art Institute held annual exhibits of Palmer’s work. These exhibits continued for 27 years. In 1918, after an already stunning career, Palmer became the first female president of the Chicago Society of Artists.
Since Palmer produced such an abundance of work over the course of her lifetime, many Chicago area collectors are having Palmer-style paintings professionally cleaned and restored in hopes that it will reveal a previously indistinguishable signature. 
A woman in Minnesota noticed a beautiful painting that was discarded in the trash on the side of the road. She stopped and picked up the painting which hung on her wall for many years. She decided to get the painting cleaned and after removing layers of dirt and grime a signature was uncovered. To her amazement the painting was signed, “Pauline Palmer.” The woman hired a professional appraiser to research the painting to learn more about it. You learned that the work was an important work by Pauline Palmer that was worth a considerable amount of money.
MIR appraisal services offers restoration & conservation services in addition expert appraisal and analysis. If you think you may have a Palmer in your collection, give us a call! We’d love to help you learn more about any piece of art that is sparking your curiosity!
