A drawing by Rembrandt has been found in a Scottish attic, to the astonishment of the house-owner, who had no idea it was there.
Even from the initial photographs the owner sent to Christie’s, their experts were sure it was by the the 17th-century Dutch master Rembrandt.
"We always dream of finding new drawings by the great artists, but it happens very rarely nowadays," said Benjamin Peronnet, head of old master drawings at Christie's. "That made this discovery all the more exciting."
A Blind Beggar With a Boy and a Dog is a black chalk study measuring 13cm by 8.5cm (about 5in by 3.3in). Its superiority emerges in details such as the dog’s head and hind legs, the relationship between the beggar’s hand and the hat he holds, and the delineation of the boy’s torso.
The drawing bears a particularly human touch, defaced by a brown circle like someone’s coffee cup stain. In fact, it is the mark of a studio inkwell. The subject is poignant because the artist died a pauper. His house, paintings and other possessions were sold off.
Christie's Rembrandt was one of six previously unpublished drawings found in the attic. The other drawings have been attributed to Rembrandt’s pupils. Those pupils include artists such as Ferdinand Bol, whose depiction of Jacob and Rachel reflects the master’s strong influence.
The drawings are to be sold by Christie’s on 3 July. A Blind Beggar With a Boy and a Dog alone is estimated to fetch around £80,000.
Foto: A new Rembrandt drawing of a blind beggar with a boy and a dog has been found in a wardrobe in a Scottish attic. Photograph: Christie's
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