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Attic Masterpiece Sells for $1.41M
12 Oct
Summary
- A 17th-century portrait found in a Maine attic sold for over $1.4 million.
- The painting, potentially a Rembrandt, was listed with a much lower estimate.
- An art expert believes the artwork could be worth up to $15 million.
A 17th-century portrait, discovered in an attic in Camden, Maine, has achieved a remarkable sale price of $1.41 million at auction. The painting, titled Portrait of a Young Girl, was found amongst other artworks during a routine estate appraisal. The auctioneer recognized the style as potentially being by the Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn.
The artwork, presented on an oak panel and housed in a gilded Dutch frame, was unsigned. A label on the frame indicated a past exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1970, though the museum could not confirm this detail due to the passage of time. Despite the uncertain attribution, the painting has a history of private ownership dating back to the 1920s.
Experts have suggested that if the painting is definitively confirmed as a Rembrandt, its value could reach approximately $15 million. This significant valuation comes from its stylistic resemblance to other known works by the artist. The discovery highlights the potential for hidden treasures to be found in unexpected places, with the painting's journey to a Maine attic remaining a mystery.
