A relinquished painting in a farm shed that was covered with bird poops sold for $3.1 million at auction. Surprisingly it was bought for just $600. It’s not only the reason that the painting sold millions but the reason that was rare art of Van Dyck‘s artwork.
This painting is a study by the Flemish master’s later painting called “St Jerome”. While the final painting is safely placed at Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam. The study describes many reasons for the uniqueness of the painting which portrays a nude older man sitting on a stool.
According to Sotheby’s listing, it’s one of two large studies that he (Van Dyck) designed from live models. The painting is likely between 1615 to 1618. While Van Dyck was a young artist who worked with Peter Paul Rubens in Antwerp.
The painting is also an unexpected provenance of oil painting. In a statement, Sotheby’s shared, the study of the masterpiece was only recently identified as Van Dyck’s artwork. This rare painting of Van Dyck was discovered in the 20th century under a bird’s waste in a farm shed at Kinderhook, New York.
Albert B. Roberts, the person who found it, had a passion for collecting lost pieces. Albert described his collection as an orphanage for lost art that had suffered from neglect.”
Statement of Auction House.
According to Sotheby’s, Albert bought the neglected painting for just $600. But later, an art historian Susan J. Barnes’s article stated that the piece of art was painted by Van Dyck. She recognized the painting as surprisingly well-preserved.
Robert’s estate offered this rare artwork to Sotheby’s. According to the Auction house, the portion of the auction price will be beneficial for Albert B. Roberts Foundation. The foundation provides financial support to artists and other charities.
Along with Agnolo Bronzino, Titian, and Melchior de Hondecoeter, the study was sold as Sotheby’s Thursday “Master Paintings Part I” sale. The rare Van Dyck painting sold for $3.1 million on Thursday.
