Portray Performed within the Model of Rembrandt Sells for $1.5 M.

A mysterious unsigned portrait within the fashion of Rembrandt van Rijn lately bought for practically $1.5 million at Thomaston Place Public sale Galleries, greater than 100 occasions its low estimate of $10,000.

The portrait depicts a teenage lady wearing austere black apparel. In line with Artnet Information, the image was cataloged as being made “after” Rembrandt; it was dated to the early 1630s, a interval when the artist oversaw portrait commissions at Hendrick Uylenburgh’s studio in Amsterdam.

Nonetheless, on the reverse of the portrait was affixed a label that implied the image might have come from the hand of the nice outdated grasp himself. In line with the sticker, the portray, titled Portrait of a Woman, was as soon as loaned to the Philadelphia Museum of Artwork by Cary Bok of Camden, Maine, a descendant of the Curtis Publishing Firm fortune. At the moment, in keeping with the label, the portray was attributed to Rembrandt himself, although the Philadelphia Museum of Artwork mentioned that such a label doesn’t equate to authentication. The museum was additionally unable to pin down which present included the portray.

Portrait of a Woman was found by Kaja Veilleux, the founder and auctioneer of Thomaston Place, within the attic of a non-public property in Camden, Maine, throughout a routine home name. Bidding opened at $32,500, in keeping with Dwell Auctioneers, and the value escalated quickly, pushed by 11 bidders—9 on the cellphone and a couple of in particular person. Finally, the image went to an nameless UK collector, regardless of lingering questions on its authenticity.

Final yr, two Rembrandt portraits that have been beforehand unknown have been present in a household’s personal assortment and bought at Christie’s London for $14 million. On the time, they have been regarded as the final Rembrandts that have been privately held.

Christie’s presently holds the data for each the most costly and the second-most costly Rembrandts ever to have bought at public sale. Portrait of a person with arms akimbo (1658) bought for £20.2 million ($33.3 million) in London in December 2009, whereas Portrait of a girl in black costume and a cap and collar (1632) bought for £19.8 million ($28.8 million) in 2000.