Unknown Rubens portrait auctioned

[Евгений]

Auction house Sotheby's auctioned unknown "Portrait of a young girl" painted by Peter Paul Rubens, writes British The Independent. Painting since its writing, kept in private collections and never exhibited.
Portrait painted in 1606 - probably in Italy or in Spain. As stated on the reverse side of the canvas, painting belonged to the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice and in the XIX century was sold to the British collector John Henmeru. Subsequently, the picture is still at least twice changed owners and its current owner, whose name is unknown, bought the portrait of some 25 years ago.

According to the Sotheby's, the pattern is very well preserved and is a fine example of early Rubens. The portrait will be auctioned works of old masters, which will be held in December, organizers hope to gain for him to six million dollars.

It is known that, apart from Rubens, the auction may be a rare self-portrait by Anton van Dyck, as well as "Saint John" painted Domenico Dzamperi.