Lost Renaissance painting discovered in 90-year-old woman’s bungalow
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The 15th-century oil painting attributed to an Italian Renaissance painter and owned by an Italian woman was discovered and sold for $321,000.
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Depiction of the Madonna and Child painting (Source: Dawsons Auctioneers)
A lost oil painting attributed to Italian Renaissance painter Filippino Lippi depicting Virgin Mary and baby Jesus was found in a 90-year-old woman’s bungalow. Art News reported that the painting was sold for $321,000 at Dawsons Auctioneers in London.
The painting titled The Depiction of the Madonna and Child dates back to the 15th century, is set in a landscape, and is framed in gilded wood.
It belonged to an Italian woman in her 90s with dementia who moved into a nursing home last year. In order to cover the woman's medical expenses, Dawsons Auctioneers began evaluating and selling the contents of her bungalow.
The woman inherited The Depiction of the Madonna and Child from her father after his death and was unaware of its significance.
“The last room that I went to was her bedroom and I was amazed to see this beautiful 16th-century religious painting,” Arts News quoted Siobhan Tyrrell, the auction house’s head of valuations.
"Attracting no less than 20 bidders, the painting’s high price suggests that some believe the work might even be by the artist himself," highlighted Art News.
According to Tyrell, the proceeds from selling the painting will be spent on the woman's care, affirming that the sum is "an absolute godsend and will really change her life.”
