Sotheby's auctioned "Charming"
 

Sotheby's has announced that the Week of the old masters would sell the painting, around which so far not recorded. The author of "Charming» (La Belle Ferronniere) think of Leonardo da Vinci or one of his students.

Week old masters will open in New York on January 27. The first auction will take place graphic works. Among the lots - drawings by Tiepolo, Canaletto, Fragonard. The next day, the turn of painting. Among the works that will be put up for auction - painting by Hendrick Goltzius "Jupiter and Antiope" (her estimate of $ 8.12 million), "St. Dorothea "Francisco de Zurbaran (3-4 million)," Portrait of a woman in a black hat "Rembrandt (8.12 million dollars).

One of the most intriguing will be lots of "Portrait of an Unknown Woman", which for almost a century is haunted by the art critics and collectors. It is believed that its author could be Leonardo da Vinci or one of his students. Supposedly, the painting depicts Lucrezia Crivelli, Sultana Ludovic Moreau - the Duke of Milan and patron of the painter. In fact, under the name "Charming" was included several works da Vinci, including "Lady with an Ermine." The most famous "Portrait" is in the Louvre.

In the 20 years of the last century around this work has inflamed the serious scandal. "Charming" as a wedding gift received Harry and Andre Khan godmother of the bride. After some time they decided to sell the painting: the potential buyer wanted to pay her 225 thousand dollars and transfer to the local Art Institute. International expert Joseph Duvin, which asked for comments about the upcoming deal, said that the picture is a fake. Deal eventually fell through, but on Duvin filed in court. In 1929 art dealer paid the Khans of 60 thousand dollars, however, consensus that is "Charming" Khans genuine or not, has not happened. In 1993, experts concluded that the work was written before 1750, and hypothesized that it was created by French artist, or with the use of French material.

Estimate "Charming" is 300-500 thousand dollars The picture can be seen on the pre-auction exhibition until January 13 in Los Angeles, and then to January 23 - in New York.

Irina Petrova

And suddenly this ... Here is an investment !:D

http://catalogue.sothebys.com/auctio...ys_JSON_24.txt

Hardly real. Still, experts give painfully later: up to 1750. And Leonardo - 1452-1514. Even on the "school" or "circle", as usually write in their catalogs, do not pull :(