Dear Sarah Chodera,

Thank you for your appraisal submission. The work is a 1989 wax pastel drawing on canvas board by Joseph Rollo (Italian-American, 1904 - 2001). Titled to the verso as "Pears in Basket," the work is a still life drawing depicting a canvas of pears placed to the corner edges of a table. The background is nearly a non-representational color blocked ground. Overall, the drawing technique is overtly sketched, almost expressionist. The work is signed to the lower right, and inscribed verso. From the images provided, the work appears to be in good condition with possible frame abrasions to the edges. It measures 9 x 12 inches in frame.

Joseph Rollo, primarily known as Jo Rollo, is a little-known artist despite his works being in the collections of the Whitney, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the National Gallery of Art. His biographical information is lacking, but documentation states that he presided in Chicago and received multiple commissions during the WPA era. He is know as a painter and lithographer. His secondary market record is even more scant with a drawing selling for $150 in 2010. Considering this work as a still life would likely sell higher than a fine line lithograph we estimate this work to be slightly higher than the 2010 record, but not by much more given the lack of market presence. We estimate the Fair Market Value of this work between $0 and $200, towards the higher end of this range.

Thank you for your submission.

Kind regards,
Charlotte B.