Two platinum prints by Alfred Stieglitz, A Venetian Courtyard, 1894.
(Photo:Christie’s)
Estate sales can be amazing places to find treasures.
At a 2021 estate sale in Connecticut, photographer Jeff Sedlik discovered a long-lost masterpiece.
Two platinum prints by Alfred Stieglitz, “A Venetian Courtyard,” 1894. (Photo:Christie’s)
Purchasing the faded photograph for $2,200 turned out to be a smart investment.
The framed print turned out to include two long-lost Alfred Stieglitz prints.
These works by the famous turn-of-the-century photographer evince his classicPictorialism.
The other print. (Photo:Christie’s)
Now up for auction atChristie’s, the prints are expected to sell for up to $250,000.
The prints, one much more faded than the other, are titledA Venetian Courtyard, 1894.
The platinum prints show a woman drawing water from a well, dressed in classic working class garb.
A notation from the last time the photos were seen. (Photo:Christie’s)
Idealized scenes were common fodder for expressing a dreamlike ethos.
The image here was taken when the artist was on his honeymoon in Venice.
Three existing copies were known before this estate sale find, but none were the fine example exhibited.
Its discovery might be quite the windfall for Sedlik.
AsChristie’ssays, The rarity of this find cannot be overstated.
Some lucky collector or museum will soon gain a piece of photographic history.
A notation from the last time the photos were seen.
