THE LAST VAN GOGH?
Quite possibly the last painting ever painted by the Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh has been discovered locked away in a bank vault in Athens. The rightful owner, a Greek man named Peppa was a resistance fighter in world war two. If the portrait is an original as suspected, it would make it one of three portraits Van Gogh executed of his physician, Dr Gachet when he was 37 years old and the same year in which he committed suicide. For this reason it has been suggested that this piece which is rather less detailed than the others, could be the last work Van Gogh completed. Also, hidden away with the painting were sketch books and notes containing the scribbles of the world renowned post-impressionist.
The portrait has undergone many laboratory analyses which suggest the materials were from the correct period and the brush strokes and signature are all consistent. Furthermore, a Nazi stamp and code on the back of the painting provides added proof of its authenticity reported the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. Previously suspicions have been raised regarding the authenticity of the other two portraits of Dr. Grachet, one which hangs in Musée d’Orsay was suspected of being forged by Dr. Grachet himself.
The painting is said to have been seized by the Nazi’s in France from a Jewish home and put in an exhibition of looted items in Athens. It was then during transportations that the painting was seized in a raid on a train by a prominent figure of the partisan movement in 1944.
At the time, then a ‘young’ Greek man, Peppa decided to place the portrait in a bank vault after consulting the head of the Greek National gallery who confirmed its legitimacy. A very wise decision which reflects his understanding of what a treasure he had uncovered and liberated. The Jewish Owners have not been identified and therefore by Greek law the painting still belongs to Peppa. With the authenticity about to be confirmed speculation of the value of this painting is currently estimated at $100m.
By Dan Groves.
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