Art treasure confirmed as Vermeer
April 11, 2004 | bengisu yilmazturk
A valuable painting once dismissed as a fake has been confirmed as the work of 17th Century Dutch master Vermeer.
Young Woman Seated at the Virginals, thought to have been painted in about 1670, will now become the first Vermeer to be auctioned in more than 80 years.
It is expected to fetch over £3m at London auction house Sotheby's in July.
Researchers spent more than 10 years studying the painting by the artist - known for more than 30 works including Girl With A Pearl Earring.
The work, measures just 10 by eight inches (25 by 20 cm).
The painting was long believed to be a Vermeer - until 1947 when Dutch master forger Han van Meegeren went on trial for selling artworks to the Germans during World War II.
He admitted that he had sold seven fake Vermeers to museums
more: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/3583889.stm (158)
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