Unknown Velázquez to be sold at Bonhams

Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velázquez
Portrait of a gentleman

Unknown Velázquez to be sold at Bonhams A ‘Portrait of a gentleman’ attributed to Diego Velázquez highlights Bonhams auction of Old Master Paintings in London on December 7, 2011]]>

October 28, 2011, source: Bonhams / theartwolf

The portrait arrived at Bonhams in August 2010 as a work by Matthew Shepperson, a nineteenth century British artist. The work brought to the attention of the Old Master Paintings department in London, and the work was withdrawn from the auction for further investigation. Dr Peter Cherry, Professor at the University of Dublin and one of the world’s foremost authorities on Velázquez, wrote that “the style and technical brilliance of the representation itself betrays its author”.

Andrew McKenzie, Director of Old Master Paintings at Bonhams, commented that the discovery of this “extraordinarily beautiful portrait” by Velázquez was “a once in a lifetime experience“.

The identity of the man is unknown but, according to the auction house, it is possible that it could be Juan Mateos, Philip IV’s Master of the Hunt. The 47 x 39 cm work is estimated to sell for £2,000,000-3,000,000.

Works by Velázquez rarely appears on the art market. In 2007, a “Saint Rufina” was acquired at Sotheby’s by the Abengoa Foundation in Seville for £8.42 million.

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