Unknown Mondriaan painting discovered

Translated from Dutch NOS TV:

Unknown Mondrian surfaces at auction

Today, 15:47

A ‘new’ Mondrian has surfaced at Christie’s auction house in Amsterdam. The work comes from private ownership and was hitherto unknown. The painting shows a landscape with in the distance Arnhem city, writes Omroep Gelderland.

Piet Mondrian painted the work in 1902 or 1903. The painting Landscape near Arnhem is not described in any catalog and has never previously hung in a museum.

According to art specialist Odette van Ginkel the owner does not know much about the origin and how it came into the family. Van Ginkel believes the painting was sold fairly quickly probably after it was finished. Possibly therefore it has never appeared in a catalog.

Authenticity

There is little or no doubt about the authenticity of the painting. Dutch Institute for Art History RKD and the The Hague Municipal Museum reviewed the work.

A similar work by Piet Mondrian is known, painted from the same spot on the north side of the capital of Gelderland.

Tuesday

The painting is now officially approved and will be listed in the next catalog of Mondrian‘s work. Which will come out next spring.

The painting is estimated to be sold at between 120,000 and 180,000 euros. The work will be auctioned Tuesday at Christie’s in Amsterdam.

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