Century-Old Connecticut Barn Discovery: Forgotten Painting Unveils Hidden $7 Million Secret at Auction
Imagine stumbling upon a dusty old painting in a Connecticut barn attic, so grimy and blackened that it looks more like a charcoal sketch gone wrong than a masterpiece. Well, that’s exactly what happened in 1998, and what followed was nothing short of a miraculous art resurrection. After painstaking restoration, this forgotten gem revealed itself to be “View of Olinda, Brazil,” painted in 1666 by none other than Frans Post—a Dutch artist who took a rare 17th-century European detour to the Americas. This isn’t just any old landscape; it’s a vibrant glimpse into Brazil’s past, cloaked in the mystery of dirt and time, and casually smashed auction records by selling for $7 million in under two minutes. Makes you wonder—what other priceless treasures might be hiding under layers of attic grime, just waiting to be unveiled? Dive into the fascinating journey of this once-lost masterpiece and see why Frans Post still can’t quite believe his brushstrokes travel this far in history. LEARN MORE
After the painting was painstakingly restored, it was revealed to be the 1666 masterpiece “View of Olinda, Brazil” by Dutch artist Frans Post, one of the few European painters to visit the Americas in the 17th century.
Sotheby’sThe 1666 painting by Dutch artist Frans Post, “View of Olinda, Brazil,” that was found in a Connecticut barn attic.
In 1998, a dirty, dust-covered painting was found in the attic of a barn in Connecticut. The painting would soon turn out to be a lost masterwork by 17th-century Dutch artist Frans Post.
Known as “View of Olinda, Brazil, with Ruins of the Jesuit Church,” the painting underwent restoration at the urging of George Wachter, the chairman of Sotheby’s North and South America, and was soon returned to its former glory.
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