The auction house thought the portrait was a 17th century Rembrandt knockoff, and valued it at just $3,100. But the British buyer who paid about 1,500 times more than that apparently knew what he was doing.
Experts have confirmed “Rembrandt Laughing” — bought for a bargain price of $4.5 million at an English auction house in October — is a self-portrait by the Dutch master himself, depicted with his head tilted back in easygoing laughter.
William Noortman from Noortman Master Paintings, specializing in Dutch and Flemish masters, said it’s worth $30 million to $40 million, adding: “I’m very surprised it didn’t make more at auction.”
“A self-portrait by Rembrandt, that’s absolutely unique — not in my lifetime,” Jan Six said.
Better than watching Antiques Roadshow!
Thanks, K B
Something sells for over a million (anything) and an “auction house” doesn’t know real from fake?
Or was real and fake established 50 years ago by experts examining brush strokes and today by MRI and optical dispersion scans?
In the end, why is a painting worth more or less depending on who painted it, when it remains what it is throughout?
That puzzles me.
Still, time to repeat that all “art” is bullshit except for that which you make yourself for yourself. Also a timely demonstration of how speculators create an artificial investment bubble unrelated to the intrinsic value? == Oil based paint and all?
Since the bidding brought the price up to $4.5 million, then someone else must have thought it had some value too.
Since the bidding brought the price up to $4.5 million, then someone else must have thought it had some value too.
Maybe, maybe not. Have you priced Rembrandt knockoffs lately? Last one I bought was a couple of million, and that was just some fat chick or something.
Ugly fella.
Erm guys, the auction house said it was fake, but it is in fact a real one.
but yeah, very strange.
maybe it is fake but the guy who bought it payed the experts who say it’s real, then will sell it for a high price 😀
who knows.
and totally agree with bobbo.
That painting is worth millions because of it’s speculative value.
Personnaly i have a reproduction of a dali painting, and it’s just because i really like the painting. Having the original or the reproduction doesn’t make a difference for me.