How €800 painting of Jesus went for €120,000 at Dublin auction
This 'sleeper' of a painting was estimated to sell at around €800 but racked up a €120,000 sale price at an auction in Dublin.
The 19th-Century oil-on-copper panel entitled 'Jesus Wearing the Crown of Thorns' - and measuring 34cm x 24cm - was part of a lot that was being cleared out from an institution.
Director of Adam's Auctioneers James O'Halloran told RTÉ news that he had a look "amongst about a hundred things that were in a corridor" and spotted the carved, painted frame.
Mr O'Halloran said he opened bidding at €500 - he anticipated a certain amount of interest, but the bidding was nothing short of miraculous.
"But one of the internet bidders pounced immediately and put in a bid of €2,000. So at that point then I knew that we were probably going to get some degree of fireworks," he said.
This type of sale - of an artwork whose value has been underestimated - is referred to as "a sleeper".
Irish Independent
