I purchased an oil painting at a yard sale at 25 Benhill Rd, St Paul, MN. The piece is a classic portrait of a young boy and girl seated side by side, staring out at the viewer, with realistic lighting, balanced composition, and rich textures. Between them, they’re holding open a blurry magazine or book. Their clothing suggests the 1920s or ‘30s, though that’s just a guess. The signature, located on the bottom right, is smeared so it’s hard to decipher the name or date. My best guess is that it says, Gea Caporiacco, but there is no information available about this artist online.
Fun fact: Caporiacco is a village of the municipality of Pagnacco in the province of Udine, Italy… but that’s all I got!
- Stretched canvas, 26x23”
Original price: $2.00
I painted a yellow rubber duck wearing a purple crown and holding a magic wand on the painting and donated this “new” artwork to Hidden Treasures Thrift Store
(2915 Pentagon Dr. Minneapolis, MN) on July 2, 2026, around 6:45pm.
A successful collaboration! Thank you, Gea Caporiacco (?), for your contribution to the piece!!
Finished artwork by Gea Caporiacco (?) and Seamus Liam O’Brien (2026)
The original painting I purchased at a yard sale in St. Paul, MN.
I painted a yellow rubber duck wearing a purple crown and holding a star wand on the painting.
Detail - Upon completing the duck painting I added my signature to the artwork.
I placed the ‘new’ artwork on a random shelf at Hidden Treasures Thrift Store in NE Minneapolis.
Detail - The signature on the bottom right is smeared, but it looks like it says, Gea Caporiacco. Date unknown.
Detail of the yellow rubber duck I painted between the two children.
Rubber duck toy I used as my model for the piece.
Artist Seamus Liam O’Brien holding the finished painting in front of Hidden Treasures Thrift Store.