DUESSELDORF, GERMANY — There was a standout painting offered at Hargesheimer Kunstauktionen’s September 18 auction. While it was clearly identified as a Seventeenth Century work by what was thought to be a Venetian master, there was no confirmation of who had painted “The Holy Family with Johannes as a Child and Holy Lucia of Syracus.” Thus it came to the block with a $550 estimate.

More than 40 bidders in the salesroom, on the telephone and online joined the fray, and for over 15 minutes the bids jumped from that opening bid to end, finally, at $209,690 including the buyer’s premium.

“Although we were sure that the limit would multiply, the price exceeded all our expectations” said Frank Hargesheimer, director of the auction house. He went on to explain that the experts of the Old Master paintings department did examine the work, “yet due to a lack of time could not determine the author of this exceptional painting.” Stylistic similarities could be found especially with the Venetian painter Jacopo Palme (1480, Serina Alta–1528, Bergamo), also known as Jacopo Palma il Vecchio. Hargesheimer said, “Due to the technical characteristics of the painting the experts believe a successor of Palma Vecchio to be the actual painter.” Certainly its creator will eventually be discovered, but for now, this painting is moving to an undisclosed collection.

For more information, www.kunstauktionen-duesseldorf.de or watch for a full review in a future issue of Antiques and the Arts Weekly.