Two rare portraits made by Dutch Golden Age painter Rembrandt have recently been discovered in a private collection. The portraits, each measuring around 8 inches in height, are soon set to be offered at an auction by Christie’s and could fetch anywhere from $6.25 million to $10 million.
The portraits show Rembrandt’s relatives Jan Willemsz van der Pluym and his wife Jaapgen Carels, according to the auction house. They were signed by the painter and dated to 1635.
The paintings remained in the family until the mid-18th century, after which they changed hands several times. The last time they surfaced was in 1824, when they were purchased by a British family and made part of their collection.
During the assessment of the family’s possessions, the expert noticed the portraits and brought them back to the spotlight. They were with the family for so long that they became unknown to the modern art world.
The two portraits, considered the smallest Rembrandt ever painted, will make rounds in New York City and Amsterdam in June before making their way to London for auction on July 6.
Henry Pettifer, who serves as international deputy chair of Old Master paintings at Christie’s, told CNN that the members of the family were not aware of the value of portraits.
“The pictures were immediately of terrific interest,” Pettifer told the media outlet. “I don’t think they had looked into it. They didn’t have expectations for the paintings.”
