It was a typical day at an estate sale for the head valuer at the London’s Dawsons Auctioneers. Typical, that is, until a client walked into the bedroom of the ho-hum sale and immediately spotted what she knew was a 16th-century painting of the Madonna and Child. Yep. We all should have such luck at house sales. The oil-on-canvas painting belonged to a 90-year-old woman who left Italy as a little girl. She inherited the artwork, believed to have been painted by artist Filippino Lippi, from her father more 30 years ago. The painting shows the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus while he plays with two angels. It sold in May for $320,000. The money will be used for the care of the owner who is suffering from dementia.

madonna and child with angels oil painting by filippino lippi follower

Photo: Dawsons Auctions

 

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