Germany artist Dürer's copper engraving "Knight, Death and the Devil"
The painting has been identified as a copper engraving of Knights, Deaths and Demons by Albrecht Dürer, ·Germany great European Renaissance painter Albrecht Dürer in 1513. Now, the rare find will be auctioned, where it could fetch tens of thousands of dollars.
Thirteen years ago, an 11-year-old English boy found a beautifully carved copper engraving in a garbage dump, and because he didn't know its value, he kept the painting at home for more than a decade, until this year he decided to have it valued by an auction house. Jim Spencer, the director of the auction house, immediately recognized ·the copper engraving as something special.
Experts at the British Museum confirmed that the work was a 500-year-old copper engraving by the legendary German Renaissance artist Albrecht · Dürer, entitled "Knight, Death and the Devil". Known for its intricate details and craftsmanship, this work is one of Dürer's three "master prints".
The print has been auctioned with a conservative guide price of £10,000 to £20,000 (about 90,000 to 190,000 yuan). However, experts believe it can sell higher.
An 11-year-old boy discovers a rare engraving of Dürer in a dump
Matt · Winter
Thirteen years ago, United Kingdom 11-year-old boy, Matt · Winter, was exploring a junkyard when he found an ornate engraving in a pile of rubbish in the back seat of a woman's car. Matt asked the woman if he could give it to him, and the other party agreed.
Matt, 24, told the United Kingdom Broadcasting Corporation (BBC): "It has a lot of details and some things tell me it's valuable, but I never knew what it really was. ”
This year, Matt decided to give the print to Jim · Spencer, director of the Staffordshire Rare Book Auction Company in United Kingdom. Jim immediately realized that Matt had something special on his hands.
Self-portrait of Albrecht · Dürer, 1498
Jim told ArtNet, a website for art trading and research in United States: "I didn't expect much when the vendor said it was taken from a dump. When I saw the print, I felt a shudder of excitement, and then I jumped straight on the train to the British Museum. ”
Jim credits the print with being created by Dürer, a German Renaissance artist known for his paintings and prints.
In a statement, Jim said: "I opened the package, removed the bubble wrap, and staggered in awe. My hands were shaking as I lifted it to the light. This engraving was absolutely rare at the time, and its quality is beyond words. I know that there is only one person who can make such a thing, and that must be the hand of Dürer himself. ”
The copper engraving "Knight, Death and the Devil" will be auctioned
Jim · Spencer holding the upcoming copper engraving "Knight, Death and the Devil"
At the British Museum, researchers carefully studied every detail of the engraving. After comparing this painting with three other works, experts concluded that the painting is genuine, the Knight, Death and the Devil from 1513, one of Dürer's three famous paintings.
For experts, the details that finalized the deal were a slight scratch on the knight's horse's head. This defect was accidentally scraped on the copper plate before printing and was eliminated in later printing.
Jim told Art.com: "Dürer's early Gothic woodblock prints were revolutionary, but his copper engravings were even more stunning, awe-inspiring, almost ahead of their time, as this print shows." ”
Jim claims that the study is one of the most important discoveries of his career.
"This is the most important print I've ever cataloged and sold," says Jim. It may have been attached to a base around 1900, which would affect its value, but it was a very good impression with good clarity and contrast, which was a huge benefit. ”
The auction ended on the evening of September 18, with a starting bid of about £10,000 to £20,000, but Jim said it could cost as much as £200,000 (about 1.876 million yuan) without installation.
Jim explained: "We have priced it conservatively, but broadly, between £10,000 and £20,000, to encourage people to look beyond the engraving itself and appreciate its overall condition, which is now in very good condition, given its age and the nature of the delicate carving. Suffice it to say, this starting price should get everyone on board, and it could easily lead to a fierce bidding war. I want the market to recognize its importance and rarity and bid accordingly. I'd like to see it spread farther and farther away. ”