Perokresbu The American architect Jean-Paul Carlhian, who died in 2012, had the Virgin Mary and Santa Claus with a flower on a grassy bench in his collection. When his wife also died three years later, the heirs sold their home near Boston, including the aforementioned drawings. It was thought to be a 20th century copy of Dürer.
–
However, the new owner later had the work assessed by experts, and they eventually came to the surprising conclusion that it was an original created in the first decades of the 16th century.
–
“When I saw Dürer, it was an incredible moment. In front of me was either an absolutely perfect copy or a masterpiece,” said Clifford Schorer, a partner at the Agnews Gallery in London, who now takes care of the work.
–
Albrecht Dürer’s self-portrait
Photo: Profimedia.cz
According to him, Dürer’s experts clearly agreed that the line drawing was genuine. It is probably a preparatory sketch for the drawing of the Madonna with Animals, which is in the collections of the Vienna Albertina.
–
According to The Times, Schorer entered into a confidential sale agreement with the owner of the drawing and paid him an unspecified amount in advance, which allowed his family to pay off credit card debts, pay for roof repairs and buy a new car.
–
But a man in his sixties who came across a drawing years ago can expect it to be secured for the rest of his life, because the cost of the work is estimated at tens of millions of dollars.
—
