Van Gogh found at flea market
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PORTETS, France (Reuters) -- A painting of field workers by Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh, bought at a flea market 12 years ago for $1,800, is expected to fetch up to $3.6 million at an auction in France Saturday.
Organizers of the sale in the town of Portets in southwest France have erected a tent with room for 300 people to deal with the expected spill-over from the 250-seat auction venue.
Auctioneer Eric Le Blay said bidding would start at $1.2-1.8 million but could reach double that.
This year is the 150th anniversary of Van Gogh's birth, fueling interest in his work. The troubled painter, who once cut off part of an ear during a psychotic episode, was derided by critics during his lifetime but has since been recognized as a master.
The small oil-on-wood painting depicting farm laborers under a heavy sky was missing for close to 100 years until an eagle-eyed man spotted it in a second-hand market near Paris and noticed the signature "Vincent" in a corner.
A controversy has erupted over the authenticity of the painting. The Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam has so far refused to give the work its stamp of approval, but other experts and restorers say it is real, said Le Blay.
Copyright 2003
Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
