Lost Masterpiece Found in Attic Sells for $7 Million!

Quick Smiles:

• Frans Post’s long-lost painting fetched $7 million at auction.
• Once hidden under grime, it now reveals vivid scenes of colonial Brazil.
• Discovered in a Connecticut attic, it became a record-breaking sale.

A remarkable journey from obscurity to the spotlight has unfolded for a painting by Frans Post, a somewhat lesser-known Dutch master. This captivating piece, once buried under layers of dust in a Connecticut attic, recently commanded an impressive $7 million at auction.

The painting, titled “View of Olinda, Brazil, with Ruins of the Jesuit Church,” was crafted in 1666. It stands as one of the earliest portrayals of Dutch colonial Brazil to grace European art galleries.

The painting’s history is as colorful as its canvas. It was owned by a series of Parisians, including Napoleon’s paternal uncle, before finding its way into a private collection in the United States.

Years of neglect had left it caked with black grime, obscuring its vibrant details. However, a leading New York art conservator meticulously restored it, unveiling blue skies, figures carrying baskets, and a menagerie of New World animals.

An auction house chairman remarked in a video,
“Of all the paintings we put up… probably 40% are dirty.”

He added,
“Is it worth pursuing? That’s the question I need to ask, and with the Post there was no question we were looking at something beyond.”

It was this chairman who persuaded Tom and Jordan Saunders III to acquire “View of Olinda” back in 1998, despite its obscured state. Their leap of faith paid off spectacularly when the painting set a record for a Post sale price just two minutes into the auction.

The allure of this artwork lies in its rarity and historical significance. Frans Post was among the few European artists who spent time in the former Dutch colony of northeast Brazil, capturing its unique flora, fauna, and people.

His surviving canvases are scarce, making “View of Olinda” a valuable fusion of realistic depiction and imaginative embellishment. The bottom left of the painting features an armadillo, anteater, and alligator—an intriguing blend of reality and artistic flair.

This discovery and subsequent restoration highlight the hidden treasures that barns and attics can hold, offering a glimpse into a world long past.

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