Long-lost van Gogh painting was sold at Minnesota garage sale for $50, according to report

Long-Lost Van Gogh Painting Bought for $50 at Garage Sale Could Be Worth $15 Million

Experts at LMI Group International, a New York-based art data science firm, have recently published a 450-page report on a painting called “Elimar,” which they believe is an original work by Vincent van Gogh. The painting was purchased at a garage sale in Minnesota for just $50 in 2016, but it could potentially be worth as much as $15 million, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The experts believe that van Gogh created the painting while he was a patient at the Saint-Paul sanitarium in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence between May 1889 and May 1890. The canvas is inscribed with the word “E L I M A R.” Measuring 45.7 by 41.9 centimeters, the piece is described in the report as an “emotionally rich, profoundly personal work created during the final and tumultuous chapter of van Gogh’s life.”

A Glimpse into van Gogh’s Personal Life

The portrait depicted in “Elimar” shows an older, wiser version of van Gogh, with a somber expression, a pipe in his mouth, and a fur hat, standing by the ocean. The painting shares the same three-quarter view as all four van Gogh self-portraits painted in 1889.

The report highlights various stylistic elements that are consistent with van Gogh’s oeuvre, such as distinctive marks under the eyes, marks at the corner of the mouth, detailed depictions of eyelashes and whites of the eyes often in blue or green, a pronounced nasal-labial line, and cursory shorthand describing the tragus and helix. The painting also features a cuff color that contrasts with the sleeve, a recurring theme in van Gogh’s work.

Authentication Challenges

Despite the experts’ findings, the Van Gogh Museum has denied the painting’s connection to the renowned Dutch artist. In February 2019, LMI Group received a statement from the museum stating that the work “cannot be attributed to Vincent van Gogh” based on stylistic features.

LMI Group’s president, Lawrence M. Shindell, defended the organization’s data-based approach to verifying the painting’s origin. He emphasized that their methods represent a new standard of confidence in uncovering unknown or forgotten works by important artists. By combining science, technology, connoisseurship, historical context, formal analysis, and provenance research, LMI Group aims to expand and enhance the resources available for art authentication.

The Value of Art in Unlikely Places

This discovery serves as a reminder that valuable artworks can be found in unexpected locations. In this case, a garage sale in Minnesota became the setting for a remarkable find. The story of “Elimar” adds to the intrigue and allure of van Gogh’s legacy, shedding light on a lesser-known aspect of his life and artistic development.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Van Gogh Museum for further comments on this remarkable discovery.