SUPPOSED REMBRANDT PAINTING DISCOVERED IN ATTIC SELLS FOR $1.4 MILLION

The art of the Dutch Golden Age peaked with Rembrandt van Rijn. The Old Master is unmatched in his ability to depict light and shadow in his breathtaking drawings and moving portraits. In addition to being displayed in all of the major museums, his pieces can be found in enigmatic hidden places and private collections across the globe. These resurrected treasures fetch astonishing prices at auction when they do make it that far. For example, a recent Rembrandt portrait found in an attic in Maine brought an impressive $1.4 million at auction.

The little, gloomy portrait, called Portrait of a Girl, is in superb shape. It is a painting of a young woman wearing a bonnet and a large frill that was typical at the time, and it is framed in gold on a wood panel. Thomaston Place Auction Galleries found the piece in an attic of a Camden, Maine estate. The founder of the gallery, Kaja Veilleux, said, "We often go in blind on house calls, not knowing what we'll find." After spending a considerable amount of time going through the estate's art and antiques, the biggest discovery was made in the attic.

The painting continues to be somewhat enigmatic. The label at the rear of the frame credits Rembrandt as the creator and states that it was lent to the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1970 by Mr. Cary Bok of Camden, Maine. The passage of time has unfortunately prevented the museum from verifying that the painting was on display, and it remains a mystery how it got into the attic.

According to Mr. Veilleux, "that's part of the mystery" to The New York Times. "We're lucky to have found it. Nobody else could have handled it in the same way.

One of the most thrilling auctions held at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries was made possible by this incredible discovery. Zebulon Casperson, representing the victorious European bidder, secured the project for an astounding $1.4 million.

"I never thought I'd help close a deal for over a million dollars out of all the phone bids I've handled," admits Casperson. "It seems like a triumph shared by all."