Painting bought by 170 euros was from Dalí – and it was worth 30 thousand

A painting bought by 172 euros in a estate was now authenticated as a work by Salvador Dalí Catalan painter – and can be worth more than 30 thousand euros. The unusual illustration, which is now in auction, was part of the abandoned project of the thousand and one nights of the surrealist artist.

In the eyes of a layman, it is not a painting that calls attention to being a masterpiece of Salvador Dalí.

Perhaps this is why, when two years ago the unusual image was auctioned in a Cambridge estate, it only attracted two biders – and was sold by 150 pounds – About 172 euros.

But the painting, which was still authenticated, was actually an illustration of an “old sultan” who painted in 1966.

“Old sultan“, A work of mixed technique to watercolor and marker, is a illustration of a thousand and one night sceneS – One of the 500 illustrations that the great surrealist artist intended to create the popular tales of the Middle East.

“Dalí was quite obsessed with the Moorish culture and believed to be a Moorish lineage, ”he explains to Gabrielle DownieSpecialist in Fine Arts of the British auctioneer, who in October will put the work in auction.

The illustrations had been commissioned by Giuseppe and Mara Albarettothe patron of Dalí, and Rizzoli, an Italian publisher, planned to publish them. But Dalí abandoned the projectafter completing only 100 of the 500 illustrations – and leaving them all to publish.

“Of these 100 illustrations, Half stayed with the publisher Rizzoli and were damaged or lost, while The other 50 stayed with the Albaretto And they were later inherited by his daughter, Christina – who was also goddaughter of Dalí, ”says Downie.

The 50 illustrations retained by the Albaretto family were finally published in 2014, reviving interest in the abandoned project and generating curiosity about the whereabouts of the unpublished pieces.

Two years ago, a 60 -year -old antiques merchant who was unaware of the history of these illustrations, Participated in a estate sale – where he noticed in a Small Lustration with Dalís’s signature in the lower right corner. It was told that the painting had been found in the garage of a London House

“The auction was not online, so you appear, you see, and whatever you see is yours opportunity to discover a treasure“Said the art merchant.

“Most of the time, I buy things that I like. On this occasion, it was really scanbecause I wasn’t sure if I would have it on the wall, to be honest… I like some unusual art, but you would have to worship herwouldn’t you? ”He adds.

Indeed, painting may not please all tastes… just like, in fact, any other work by the Catalan surrealist painter.

However, the British trader was barely able to contain the excitement when he noticed stickers placed on the back of the Lusption, which indicated that the painting had been listed in a Sotheby’s auction in the 1990s. “I did a little research and I couldn’t believe in what I was seeing“.

Russell decided to tender “nthe impulse of the moment ”Betting on your ability to detect a forgery after years of eagerly seeing the BBC television program Fake or Fortune. “It’s one of my favorite programs.”

The painting, which portrays a sultan with jewelry, did not arouse widespread admiration: despite being described as an original painting by Salvador Dalí, the sellers “not even listed it with a reserve priceand there was no interest in the room ”of other traders.

One person bid against him during the auction – and gave up When the antiques merchant offered 172 euros.

A few months later, the merchant searched the Sotheby’s sales catalog on eBay – which listed the 38 cm x 29 cm painting and showed that it had been previously identified as Dalí’s work,.

Ask Cheffins to endorse the paint.

The auctioneer consulted Nicolas Descharnesrenowned specialist in Dalí, who certified painting as authentic.

Calchanns explained to Guardian that the Style, theme and colors of illustration They corresponded to those of other pieces in the series, along with the quality and size of the paper. “People expect to see very surrealistic pieces from Dalí. It’s not surrealistic, but it’s a Dalí“Says Cadarnes.