Hi Teri,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

Vardanian is an artist about which not much biographical information is known. The body of his work that has come to auction is entirely landscapes. His use of Native American figures in this particular example is unusual but very compelling and ties it into the genre of Western American Art, which is a very hot market at the moment. The use of the Latin "Quo Vadis," meaning "Where are you going" or "Whither goest you" is also interesting - the titles of his other landscapes that have come to market are more banal.

I have full access to Christie's database and could find no mention of this painting there or in any of the online auction databases we also routinely utilize; when this happens, it usually means that the lot did not sell. The label is one that Christie's began to use in the mid/late 2000s, when they converted their systems into a fully digitized and barcoded system.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

Serop Vardanian (American [California], 1914 - 1997)
"Quo Vadis" or "Rendez vous"
Oil on canvas
Signed lower right
matted and framed
24 by 30 inches
CONDITION: appears to be in good condition
PROVENANCE: Christie's
$ 500-700*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia