Old painting found in attic of Maine home sells for enormous sum after it’s revealed to be lost masterpiece by famous artist
A long-lost painting by Dutch master Rembrandt was found in the attic of a Maine home and recently fetched $1,410,000 at auction.
Kaja Veilleux, the founder, appraiser and auctioneer of Thomastown Place Auction Galleries, discovered the 17th century portrait during a standard home visit.
“When we make home visits, we often go blind, without knowing what we will find,” Veilleux explained to WGAL.
“The house was filled with beautiful pieces, but we found this remarkable portrait in the attic, among piles of art,” he continued.
After a long-lost painting by Dutch master Rembrandt was found in the attic of a Maine home, it recently sold for $1,410,000 at auction
In the painting, a teenage girl wears an elegant black dress, with a white collar and hood.
The portrait is set in a hand-carved gold Dutch frame and is painted on an oak panel. It probably dates from the 1630s, when Rembrandt had recently moved to Amsterdam.
When Veilleux found the painting, he discovered that it had an impeccable surface and that its provenance was known.
On the back of the frame he saw a label stating that the portrait was a work by Rembrandt.
The label further stated that the artwork had previously been loaned to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for an exhibition in 1970.
Rembrandt was born in Leiden in 1606 and is considered one of the greatest painters in art history.
In the painting, a teenage girl wears an elegant black dress, along with a white pleated collar and hood
It is estimated that the prolific artist created a total of approximately 300 paintings, 300 etchings and 2,000 drawings.
In 2015, his painting ‘Portrait of Marten Looten’ was auctioned at Sotheby’s for 33.8 million dollars, making it the most expensive Rembrandt ever sold at auction.
The painting in the attic in Maine probably dates from the period when the Dutch master supervised the studio of Hendrick Uylenburgh, a well-known art dealer.
According to liveauctioneers.comRembrandt carried out ‘dozens of similar portrait commissions, some with the help of assistants.’
On the back of the frame he saw a label identifying the portrait as a work by Rembrandt
Despite the enormous amount of art he created, his work remains incredibly valuable.
During the recent auction hosted by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, the portrait of the young girl quickly caught the attention of bidders.
According to antiquehearts.coma preliminary sales estimate of $10,000-$15,000 was put forward for the painting.
The opening price was $5,000, but the price soon increased significantly.
According to the newspaper, there were nine telephone bidders and two serious live bidders in the room. liveauctioneers.com.
Rembrandt, born in Leiden in 1606, is considered one of the greatest painters in art history
Before the painting was sold at a higher price to a European collector, the portrait attracted more than 60 bids.
The $1.4 million price tag is reportedly a new record for the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction in Maine.
Speaking with antiquehearts.comVeilleux said he felt good about the unexpected outcome.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen until I start selling. I’m on my way to get stuff. I come to the gallery, walk up to the stage and start selling until I’m done,” he said.