When eight years ago at a small auction to sell family property, and antiques that belonged to the once rich and noble French family, an unknown portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam went under the hammer for just 2 thousand euros. Poorly maintained, dirty canvas attribute was one of the countless imitators of great German artist Hans Golbeyna Jr. (Hans Holbein der Jüngere), and because rates were low.

however, recently revealed that a private collector from Zurich, who bought the painting, made a very favorable deal. Experts have determined that the product - the last written Golbeynom portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam. He is among the few works of this author, which are in private collections and are likely to cost millions of euros.

Nahodka made this furor among researchers creativity Hans Golbeyna. This canvas has a special significance, since Erasmus Rotterdam captured it in the last years of his life (presumably it was written for 6 years before his death). Besides the portrait is proof that the friendship between the artist and the philosopher remained until his death last.

This work was presented to the public at the exhibition «Images of Erasmus» at the Museum Boymans van Beyningen (Rotterdam) as a genuine work Golbeyna. After the sale by auction 27 September 2000 it was at the insistence of the new owner was cleared of a dark background, which has suffered much later. Then, and raised questions about its origin.

restorer from New York, Marco Grassi (Marco Grassi), involved in the restoration of paintings, was struck by his look that opened after the removal of later layers. The manner in which were written by the hand model, the book and the fur on their clothes, turned out to be surprisingly close golbeynovskoy. Then the shots were made in the infrared rays, which revealed a layer of colorful drawing of hands, has great similarities with the methods Golbeyna. Grassi has admitted that the Swiss collector, bought this bed for his advice, however, he said, is «not without elements of chance».

provenansa The study also confirmed some pictures with Golbeynom. Seller, put it up for auction, was the heir of Princess Marie de Robek-Levy Mirepua (Marie de Robech-Levis Mirepoix), who died in 1997 at Chateau de Malesherb near Orleans. It was the last of the descendants of noble French family Lamuanon (Lamoignon). Among the representatives of this kind was a lot of parliamentarians and judges, and one of them was a supporter of Louis XVI, and spoke in his defense before King was executed. Lamuanony come from the noble dynasty Dentevill. One member of the family, Jean de Dentevil (Jean de Dinteville), is depicted in the painting Golbeyna «The Ambassadors», which is now in the National Gallery in London.

According to the information available, in 1721, a member of the family Lamuanon was inherited property Denteviley.

Curator of the Museum Boymans van Beyningen, Peter van der tribes (Peter van der Coelen), reported that the portrait was likely painted in 1530, when Golbeyn, and Erasmus of Rotterdam lived in Basel. However, officially, its authenticity has not yet been confirmed.

It should be noted that the work Golbeyna on the market are very rare. In the past several decades worth of samples did not appear. The only significant works include the portrait of Sir Thomas Wyeth, which was recently sold to Weiss Gallery in London for 10 million dollars. This is despite the fact that its authenticity is questionable.

According to experts, recently discovered painting of Erasmus of Rotterdam can be very valuable: it is possible that the hand of one of the greatest portrait of Northern Renaissance on canvas captures the outstanding scholar-humanist, a writer, a philologist, theologian. January 23, 2009 in Rotterdam Museum held a symposium, which will be discussed and may be definitively confirmed the authenticity of this work.

material produced Catherine Onuchin

Source: independent.co . uk , theartnewspaper.com , artinvestment.ru