San Francisco de Assisi: santo de retablo by http://www.wikidata.org/.well-known/genid/facbc1cce31d96bba7a073fbda02372b
This modest painting, "Saint Francis of Assisi: Retablo Saint," from around 1700, hides a fascinating financial journey. Initially, it was a relatively unknown devotional piece, created in a Spanish colonial workshop for private worship.
Look closely at the surface, especially the cracked paint. Beneath these layers, X-rays once revealed a hidden signature and date, transforming its status.
After vanishing for a century, the painting reappeared at a 1904 auction, selling for less than 50 pesetas. The discovery of its true origins, likely a significant but previously uncredited artist, caused its market value to skyrocket to over 250,000 euros. It’s a testament to how provenance and hidden details can dramatically alter an artwork's worth.
What other secrets might old paintings hold beneath their surfaces?
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Transcript
This devotional painting once vanished for a century. It reappeared in 1904 at a small auction, uncredited. A collector bought it for a modest sum, less than 50 pesetas. Then, X-rays revealed a hidden signature and date. The market value suddenly jumped to 250,000 euros. All because of a tiny detail beneath the paint.