I found a 17th-century Rembrandt masterpiece collecting dust in a Maine attic – it just sold for $1.4 million

AN ART collector discovered a 17th-century Rembrandt masterpiece collecting dust in an attic in Maine.

The piece of art was sold for a whopping $1.4 million.

Kaja Veilleux was scouting for antiques at a private estate in Maine when he stumbled upon a painting called Portrait of a Girl.

"We often go in blind on house calls, not knowing what we’ll find," Veilleux said in a press release.

As he was about to leave, Veilleux found a portrait of a teenage girl painted on a cradled oak panel in the attic.

The work of art was originally painted by Dutch Golden Age artist Rembrandt, who died in 1669.

While it is unknown when the painting was actually created, the piece was on display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1970.

It was on loan to Cary W. Bok, who lived in Camden and died the same year of its showcase.

After Bok, Portrait of a Girl was in the hands of Thomaston Place, who put the piece for auction during their Summer Grandeur sale.

"Usually they're found in Europe because that's where most of them were," Veilleux said to local ABC affiliate WMTW.

"But this one made its way to America in a farmhouse."

Veilleux spotted the unique portrait based on Rembrandt's unique style in painting a "ribbon-candy collar."

Veilleux said his discovery is more than just a big sale; to him, it's about the love and perseverance of art.

"To me, it's about protecting and bringing this art to light so it's protected, cared for, and preserved," Veilleux told the outlet.

MILLION-DOLLAR SALE

On August 24, art collectors went head to head for Rembrandt's unique painting.

The bidding started with nine callers across the globe, and it eventually narrowed to three collectors.

Ultimately, the bid went to a European bidder for a staggering $1.4 million.

"Out of all the phone bids I’ve handled, I never imagined I’d help close a deal for over a million dollars," said Zebulon Casperson, who represented the winning art collector.

"It feels like a shared victory."

Rembrandt's Potrait of a Girl

Portrait of a Girl was originally painted by the Dutch Golden Age artist Rembrandt. The work of art was recently sold for $1.4 million after being found in an attic in Maine. Here's all we know about it:

• Portrait of a Girl is of a teenage girl with a serene expression.
• She is dressed in a ruffled white color and cap.
• The art piece was painted on a cradled oak panel and encased in a hand-carved Dutch frame.
• Portrait of a Girl was on loan at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1970.
• The 17th-century painting was sold for a monumental $1.4 million to a European bidder on August 24, 2024.

According to Veilleux, the art dealer told WMTW that it normally takes 35 seconds to sell art.

However, the Portrait of a Girl took about 10 minutes to reach its winning bid.

"A painting like this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get it, so once it started rolling, there was no end in sight. It could bring anything," he told the outlet.

The painting is set to make its way to its owner in Europe.