19th-Century French oil painting, 'Courgette Farm Var - Provence'. It is a beautiful and unusual scene depicting a courgette farm viewed through the large trees in the foreground. A huge heap of the vegetable can be seen on the left side. It is an Impressionist oil on panel dated 1898 verso and signed lower left, signature indistinct. There are several inscriptions verso including the date 1898 and Var with other words indecipherable. More research is needed on this talented artist. Provenance: Private French collection. It is in wonderful condition displayed in what appears to be the original giltwood frame. Art has long been regarded as a strong and safe investment. Ellen Kelleher, a personal finance reporter for The Financial Times wrote an article recommending art particularly in the $500 - $50,000 range as a sound long term investment with an impressive current average annual yield of 9.7%. See 'Hang Your Investments on the Wall' in the Financial Times published in October, 2010.