In 2002, Roberts, who has spent much of his life finding and identifying what he calls "orphaned art," bought the painting at an auction in Kinderhook for $600. The oil painting on canvas was mounted on a board, and it depicted a naked elderly man. The painting appeared to have been carelessly stored, and it had bird droppings on the back, but Roberts believed it to be from the Dutch Golden Age of painting, the age of Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Rubens.
The painting has since been authenticated as an early work by Anthony van Dyck and the oil sketch for his c. 1620 painting of St. Jerome with an angel which hangs in the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam.
The oil sketch went on display today at the Albany Institute of History & Art and will be exhibited until Sunday, October 6. An article about the discovery also appeared today in The Daily Gazette: "Recently discovered van Dyck oil sketch on exhibit at Albany Institute."
COPYRIGHT 2019 CAROLE OSTERINK
A respected art dealer in Hudson referred to Mr Roberts as the bottom feeder of the art world,looks like there are some good pickens down there.
ReplyDeleteA forthcoming book will present some of Mr. Roberts' other great finds over the years.
ReplyDeleteIf we had an art museum here then perhaps these artworks could've stayed in Hudson. Too late for that now.
Al Roberts was a good friend of John Anderson (deceased) of Foxfire Antiques in the 500 block. We knew him well, saw him often, of course he is extremely knowledgeable about art and I'm very happy he had such a good find. Exciting.
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