A painting bought for $50 may be a lost Van Gogh masterpiece worth $15M. Experts reveal findings, but official authentication is still pending.
A Stunning Discovery
A painting purchased for just $50 at a Minnesota garage sale has been identified as a long-lost work by Vincent van Gogh. Art experts from LMI Group International conducted a four-year investigation, spending over $30,000 to verify its authenticity. Their findings, detailed in a 450-page report, suggest that Elimar was painted in 1889 while Van Gogh was in a French psychiatric hospital—where he also created The Starry Night. The report highlights stylistic features consistent with the artist’s work, an analysis of materials used, and even DNA testing of red hairs found on the canvas, believed to belong to Van Gogh.
Official Verification Pending
Despite LMI’s extensive research, the Van Gogh Museum in the Netherlands has yet to confirm the painting’s authenticity. Until then, Elimar remains a fascinating mystery. If authenticated, its value is estimated at $15 million. LMI plans to present their findings to a panel of Van Gogh scholars and art dealers, hoping to secure official recognition for what could be a major art world discovery.