The lost Renoir painting that turned up at a Virginia flea market for $7 may have been stolen from the Baltimore Museum of Art more than 60 years ago.

The painting was supposed to be auctioned on Saturday, but was cancelled after a reporter from The Washington Post discovered documents in the museum’s library showing that the painting was stolen in 1951 while it was on loan there, reports Yahoo! News.

The painting, titled “Paysage Bords de Seine” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir was purchased about two years ago by a Virginia woman. She took it to The Potomack Co. auction house in July, where experts confirmed it was an original Renoir painting.

It was expected to fetch at least $75,000 at auction, but Elizabeth Wainstein, the owner of the Alexandria, Va.-based auction house stated:

“Potomack is relieved this came to light in a timely manner as we do not want to sell any item without clear title.”

The FBI has been notified about the theft and an FBI spokesman assured that the bureau is investigating the theft. International Business Times notes that both Potomack and museum officials are cooperating with the investigation.

Documents discovered by the Washington Post reporter show that the painting was on loan to the museum from the collection of Saidie May, a major donor to the Baltimore Museum of Art. The painting was reported stolen on November 17, 1951, but despite the theft, there is no known police report. The Renoir painting also doesn’t appear on a worldwide registry of stolen artwork, and disappeared shortly after May’s death.

Museum officials did not realize initially that the painting had been at the BMA, because it had not yet officially been accepted into the museum’s collection. BMA director Doreen Bolger stated:

“We were caught by surprise. As this unfolds, we’ll find out more about the ownership of the painting. If the painting is ours, we would be pleased to have it on view.”

Until the FBI finishes their investigation, the reprotedly stolen painting will remain at the auction house.

Flea Market Renoir May Have Been Stolen From Museum is a post from: The Inquisitr

A woman in Virginia purchased a possible lost painting by French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir at a flea market, in a box lot.

The Potomack Company is set to auction off the small pastel-colored painting of what they believe is Renoir’s “Paysage Bords de Seine” after valuing it between $75,000 and $100,000, reports The New York Times.

The auction price is massive, considering that the owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, found the painting at a flea market, purchasing it for less than $50.

Anne Norton Craner, Potomack’s fine arts specialist and a former research associate at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, extensively researched the 5.5 by 9-inch river scene, concluding that it was painted by Renoir. Craner stated that, “You just see it and you know it’s right.”

Craner recalled when the owner brought the painting into Potomac in a large white plastic bag. She recounted that, “She liked the look of the frame, and started tearing off the paper on the back, and her mum told her to stop” because it could be worth money.

The image is included in the catalogue raisonné, or the definitive compilation of an artist’s work. She learned that the painting was owned by Herbert May, the husband of Sadie A. May, who collected many paintings in Marylanded and donated many to the Baltimore Museum of Art.

A sticker and stock number are visible on the back of the painting, but Craner has no clue how the Renoir could have gotten from the Mays’ collection to a box of junk at a flea market.

The Huffington Post notes that Craner instinctively felt the painting was an original when she first viewed it, citing the beautiful colors, as well as the French dealer label providing the artist’s name and title. She also showed the painting to a Renoir expert, who confirmed her conclusion.

The painting’s owner has not even considered keeping the Renoir, but said that, “I’m sure that whoever buys it will treat it the way it deserves to be treated.” She plans to treat her mother with a trip to the Louvre if the auction proves fruitful.

Woman Buys Possible Lost Renoir Painting At Flea Market is a post from: The Inquisitr