A family living in the north of France revealed that for a century, they owned a painting by the son of the Flemish painter Brueghel.
This family had no idea what would happen when they invited an expert to check their home in search of valuable objects and antiques.
Just like the expert, who noticed a genuine artwork by Pieter Brueghel the Younger displayed in their living room, just a few steps from the television.
According to the expert Malo de Lussac, the painting named “The Village Lawyer” had been in the family’s possession since 1900, but the heirs believed it was a fake.
The family eventually nicknamed this artwork “the Brueghel” or “the crust.”
The painting was created between 1615-17, during the period when the painter lived in Antwerp. It depicts a village law office.
Pieter Brueghel the Younger was the first son of Pieter the Elder, one of the leading painters of the Renaissance. He was known for his paintings of everyday life subjects.
The painting is rich in details and spacious, with a height of 112cm and a width of 184cm.
After authentication, the artwork was put up for sale in Paris, where it was valued between 600,000 and 800,000 euros.
An unidentified Swiss buyer finally acquired the painting for 780,000 euros.
It was a major discovery for the family and for Mr. Malo, who stated, “It was the best day of my professional life.
Of course, I was attentive. Indeed, it is rare to see a Brueghel painting displayed in a living room.”
