Woman Buys Drawing for Rs.1000, Experts Say It Could Be a Renoir Worth Millions

Ancient artwork is of enormous historical significance, at times much greater than its aesthetic value. A woman in Pennsylvania has recently discovered the possible value of a charcoal sketch she bought for a mere $12 (around Rs 1,026) in a curio shop.

The painting is thought to be that of Pierre-Auguste Renoir, a famous French artist, and could have been created in the 18th century. Markow, an owner of an antique shop, stumbled upon the work of art at a collector’s auction in Montgomery County this past winter. Smitten by its originality, she knew the moment it caught her eye that she was going to purchase it. “Paintings were selling for $1,000, $2,000, even $3,000 toward the end of the auction. I had no idea what this was…I just knew I wanted it. It was something really special,” she said to ABC News.

When examining it more closely at home, she saw a scarce stamp on the reverse and a faint signature that experts later thought might belong to Renoir. Markow theorized that the portrait was of Renoir’s wife, Aline Charigot, during a time when the artist was most interested in light and shading. Her interest caused her to view a few documentaries about the artist, but she was unable to verify its authenticity herself.

For final expert verification, she called up Sotheby’s, and it referred her to an experienced art appraiser of 43 years. When the piece was seen by him, all he could mutter was, “Congratulations.” Then she took the painting to the Wildenstein Plattner Institute, a New York-based nonprofit firm committed to saving old paintings.

A panel of experts is set to authenticate the drawing on April 10. “They believe it’s authentic. It’s rigorous, they’re pretty tough with their examination. I’m cautiously optimistic,” Markow said. If confirmed as an original Renoir, the piece could fetch over $1 million (nearly Rs 8.5 crore) in the market.