Xiao Ran took Pierre and several other antique art appraisal experts into the arranged appraisal room again.
Several ambassadors to France who had just entered the apartment building did not leave.
They stayed in the lobby on the first floor, watching everything happening here through high-definition live broadcasts on the large-screen TV.
On this big-screen TV, they can not only see the ongoing cleaning and removal of Napoleon's treasures.
You can also see Xiao Ran and the others in the appraisal room, appraising various antiques, cultural relics and works of art, as well as appraising many gold and silver treasures.
Mike, who stayed in the lobby on the first floor, accompanied the ambassadors.
It seems more appropriate to say that it is surveillance. The purpose is to prevent them from messing around in series, or beguiling other people, etc.
In the appraisal room.
Xiao Ran asked his staff to lower the brightness of the lights a little further, making the indoor light even dimmer.
The antique artworks that will be appraised next are different from the previous gold and silver treasures.
These antique pieces of art are more valuable and more responsive to environmental changes, so be especially careful.
After adjusting the light to a suitable brightness, Xiao Ran asked his employees to move a tightly wrapped picture frame and prepare to unwrap it.
Two of his employees brought the frame over, placed it gently on the table, and then stepped aside.
Xiao Ran and the others immediately stepped forward and began to examine the frame of the painting that had been hidden for more than two hundred years.
The size of this picture frame is not large, about 1.5 meters wide and 1.2 meters high.
Because of this, it can be sent into the underground palace along the secret passage, and can be taken out through the secret passage and see the light of day again.
If the size is too large, it will not be able to maintain its original shape, and the frame can only be disassembled, transported, and then installed again.
When he came to the table, Xiao Ran pretended to look at the surface of the frame seriously.
The outside of this picture frame is wrapped in several layers of moisture-proof tarpaulin, and the wrapping is quite tight.
There are no marks or words on the outermost layer of moisture-proof tarpaulin, only a set of numbers similar to numbers, 529.
No one knows the specific meaning of this group of Arabic numerals.
After quickly checking the appearance of the picture frame, Xiao Ran said:
"Gentlemen, judging from the appearance of this picture frame, there does not seem to be any danger. You can open this picture frame with confidence."
"Since these things have been hidden in an oxygen-deprived and dark underground palace for more than two hundred years, they must be very sensitive to environmental changes."
"And it's also very fragile. After I open this frame, it's best not to touch it without permission to avoid unnecessary losses."
Pierre and Henry looked at each other, and then nodded together.
"Understood, Sean, we know how to protect antiques like this"
Xiao Ran nodded, and then began to dismantle the moisture-proof tarpaulin wrapped around the picture frame.
His movements were very careful but very fast, just like a chef unloading an ox.
In the blink of an eye, he had opened the outermost layer of moisture-proof tarpaulin.
What appeared next was the second layer of moisture-proof tarpaulin.
Xiao Ran smiled softly, and then continued his previous actions, continuing to remove the moisture-proof tarpaulin.
In this way, he successively opened four layers of tightly wrapped moisture-proof oilcloth, and the wrapped picture frame just appeared in front of everyone.
This is a Baroque style black walnut frame, carved with exquisite and complex patterns and patterns.
In this frame is a baroque oil painting with a religious theme, and it is a very famous theme, "Adoration of the Virgin"
The moment they saw this oil painting, several appraisal experts, including Xiao Ran, were all stunned.
Not only them, but the other appraisal experts in the hall on the first floor, as well as countless Western painting art appraisal experts on the live broadcast, many collectors, and other experts and scholars from all walks of life, were also stunned.
Everyone looked at this Baroque style oil painting with their mouths open and their eyes filled with wonder.
After a while, everyone finally woke up.
The next moment, Henry suddenly said in surprise:
"Did I read that correctly? Isn't this Rubens' "Adoration of the Virgin"? How could this masterpiece of Baroque art appear here?"
"Isn't Rubens' "Adoration of the Virgin" always stored in a famous church in Antwerp? It has never been lost."
"More importantly, Rubens' "Adoration of the Virgin" is huge, 560cm wide and 401cm high. It is several times larger than this "Adoration of the Virgin"
"But "Adoration of the Virgin" looks too much like a work by Rubens. Even the signature of Rubens in the lower right corner is correct. Can anyone tell me what's going on?"
However, Pierre and Lawrence, who were also at the scene, were confused and could not give a reasonable answer.
At this moment, Xiao Ran suddenly smiled and said:
"Gentlemen, what is certain is that this is definitely "Adoration of the Virgin" by the Baroque master Rubens. The author's signature is the best evidence."
"Besides, more than two hundred years ago, a person with such superb painting skills would not go to great lengths to forge the works of another master."
“A piece of art that was collected by the Habsburg-Lorraine family of the Holy Roman Empire and then Napoleon cannot be a fake.”
"In this case, there is only one possibility. Rubens created this painting "Adoration of the Virgin", but this painting has not been recorded in any historical documents."
"There is another possibility, that is, this painting is one with the painting of the same name collected in Antwerp, so it is not recorded separately."
After hearing his explanation, Henry and Pierre looked at each other and then nodded.
"Judging from the timeline, it is indeed unlikely that this "Adoration of the Virgin" is a fake."
"And the painting technique of this painting is extremely superb, which is highly consistent with Rubens's painting style."
"But why did Rubens paint two identical "Adoration of the Virgin"? And they are one large and one small. I don't quite understand."
Before he finished speaking, Xiao Ran started laughing.
The next moment, he pointed at this Baroque style oil painting and said:
"In fact, although this "Adoration of the Virgin" is highly similar to the Rubens painting of the same name in Antwerp, it is not the same painting, or rather a sister painting."
"The first difference between these two paintings of the same name is the size. Everyone can see this, so I won't go into details. The second difference is the level of fineness of the painting."
"Although this oil painting is smaller in size, the brushstrokes are more delicate, and the author seems to be more attentive. The most important difference is that the characters in the painting are different."
“I don’t know if you have noticed, but there is one more angel in this painting of “Adoration of the Virgin” than in the Antwerp painting of the same name, and there are two more white doves symbolizing peace and the Holy Spirit.”
"Then there is the Virgin Mary's movements. She leans forward slightly, with a smile on her face, and her eyes are kinder. Her left hand, which was originally pressed on the Bible, is slightly raised..."
While introducing these details, he also pointed them out one by one.
As he moved, Henry and the others also discovered the differences in these details, and their eyes suddenly became brighter and brighter.
"It's true. Although this painting "Adoration to the Virgin" is smaller in size, it has richer content and more delicate brushwork. It's incredible!"
"Wow! Judging from the differences in these details, this "Adoration of the Virgin" and the one collected in Antwerp are indeed not the same painting, but sister paintings."
Henry and the others exclaimed in surprise, and each of them became more and more excited.
at the same time.
Fang Yufei and the others quickly found the high-definition picture of "Adoration to the Virgin" in Antwerp and showed it on the live broadcast for everyone to compare.
Comparing the two, people quickly discovered the differences between the two paintings of the same name.
There is no longer any doubt about the authenticity of this painting "Adoration of the Virgin".
What everyone is most concerned about now is the value of this painting.
At this moment, Xiao Ran suddenly smiled and gave the answer to this question.
"My technical staff told me through the headphones that many people on the live broadcast were asking about the valuation of this painting and wanted to know more about it."
"Since everyone is so concerned about this issue, I will tell you about it to satisfy everyone's curiosity."
"Rubens' "Adoration of the Virgin" is one of the most outstanding representative works of Baroque art and one of his personal masterpieces."
"In the current art market, such top-notch works of art are very rare. According to market conditions, the valuation of this painting should be more than 150 million US dollars."
With the release of this valuation, the situation on the ground and in front of countless live broadcasts was instantly detonated.
"Oh my God! $150 million, that's crazy!"
"Behold the Virgin" by Rubens
