A remarkable discovery was made in Camden, Maine, when a painting attributed to the Dutch Golden Age artist Rembrandt was uncovered in an attic. This valuable piece of art went on to fetch a record-breaking $1.175 million ($1.41 million including the buyer’s premium) at a recent auction held by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries.
The painting, known as “Portrait of a Girl,” depicts a teenage girl dressed in black with a white ruff around her neck and a translucent bonnet covering her hair. It was painted on a cradled oak panel and housed in a hand-carved Dutch frame with a golden sheen. Despite being unsigned, the painting has a label on the back of its frame attributing it to Rembrandt and indicating that it was on loan to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for an exhibition in 1970.
According to Kaja Veilleux, the Founder and Appraiser of Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, the painting was discovered in remarkable condition during a routine house call. Veilleux described the find as unprecedented in his 53-year career, stating, “We were invited to an old farmhouse in Camden to go through a private estate and pick out what was valuable, and we went through every floor before coming across this painting.”
The auction for the painting saw a fierce bidding war among nine callers, with offers quickly surpassing six figures. Eventually, the painting was acquired by a private collector from England, making it potentially the most expensive artwork ever sold publicly in Maine.
The sale of this rare and valuable painting serves as a testament to the enduring appeal and value of works by master artists like Rembrandt. The discovery of such a significant piece in an attic highlights the importance of thorough inspection and evaluation of all items in estate sales and auctions. This remarkable find will undoubtedly go down in history as a memorable moment in the world of art collecting and auctioneering.
