In a discovery that has made headlines, a rare 17th-century portrait "after Rembrandt" was found in a Camden, Maine attic and has sold for $1.4 million at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries. The painting, depicting a young girl in traditional Dutch attire, was uncovered during a routine estate appraisal and has now set a new auction record for the state of Maine.
See also: Rembrandt: Painter of the Soul
Attributed to one of Rembrandt's followers, the artwork was discovered by Kaja Veilleux, founder of Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, during a house call. Hidden away in the attic among other forgotten heirlooms, the portrait was painted on a cradled oak panel and encased in a hand-carved Dutch frame. Remarkably well-preserved, the piece showed little sign of wear despite its age.
See also: Small Pennsylvania Museum Discovers Rembrandt in its Collection
A label affixed to the verso of the portrait attributed it to Rembrandt and noted its previous display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1970. The painting had been loaned to the museum by a member of the Bok family, descendants of the Curtis Publishing fortune, though no formal authentication of the attribution to Rembrandt was established at the time. Consequently, the work has remained categorized as "after Rembrandt."
"We often go in blind on house calls, not knowing what we’ll find," Veilleux said.
Following its discovery, Thomaston Place included the portrait in their annual 'Summer Grandeur' sale, a three-day event featuring over 1,500 lots of fine art and collectibles.
The excitement surrounding the painting quickly escalated, drawing interest from collectors worldwide. As the bidding intensified, three determined phone bidders remained, with the final bid landing at a striking $1.4 million.
The winning bid was placed by a private European collector, represented over the phone by Thomaston Place staff member Zebulon Casperson. “I never imagined I’d help close a deal for over a million dollars,” Casperson said. “It feels like a shared victory.”
Want news like this delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our free newsletter!
This sale follows a series of high-profile Rembrandt-related auctions. Just last summer, Christie's London sold a pair of portraits by Rembrandt for £11.2 million ($14.3 million), also discovered during a routine appraisal. Like the consignors in Maine, the owners of those portraits were unaware of its value.
See also: A Rediscovered Pair of Rembrandt Portraits at Christie's
Though this painting is not attributed directly to Rembrandt but to one of his followers, its stylistic details—serene expressions, masterful use of light, and meticulous detail—make it a rare and significant example of Dutch Golden Age portraiture.
