A rare 17th-century painting by Dutch master Rembrandt, titled Portrait of a Girl, has been sold for a record-breaking sum after being discovered in an attic in Maine.
The painting, previously unknown to the public, was found in a farmhouse during what was expected to be a routine appraisal visit. Art appraiser Kaja Veilleux, owner and founder of Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, stumbled upon the artwork towards the end of his inspection in Camden.
“This is quite unusual,” said Veilleux. “Typically, such discoveries are made in Europe where most of these paintings originated. To find one here in America, in a farmhouse no less, is extraordinary.”
The Portrait of a Girl had an illustrious history, having been loaned to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for a 1970 exhibition before making its way to Maine.
Veilleux highlighted the distinctive qualities of the painting, noting, “Rembrandt’s work is easily recognizable, and one of the hallmarks of his paintings—and those of Dutch masters—is the intricate detailing, which I refer to as a ‘ribbon candy collar.’”
The painting drew considerable interest, with nine bidders vying for the piece. It eventually sold for $1.125 million. The final sale price was subject to an additional 20% buyer’s premium, further increasing the total cost for the new owner.
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