An extraordinary find, which had long remained hidden from the eyes of art experts, suddenly found itself in the spotlight: according to The Guardian, it is a rare illustration by Salvador Dalí himself. The work, entitled “The Old Sultan,” was created as part of the surrealist’s ambitious but never completed project entitled “One Thousand and One Nights.”
Just two years ago, the work was barely noticed at a local sale in Cambridge. There were only two potential buyers, and the painting was sold for just $200. The new owner, an antique dealer with a keen eye, said that the auction was held offline, which meant that participants had a unique opportunity to discover a “sleeping” masterpiece among the dust and oblivion. There was virtually no interest in the room, and no one but him paid attention to the illustration.
According to the collector, the painting was found in the garage of a London house. Looking at it, he noticed something important — Dalí’s signature in the corner and old stickers on the back, indicating that the work had been part of a Sotheby’s auction in the 1990s. “I did a little research and could hardly believe that I had the original in front of me,” he admitted.
After some time, experts confirmed that it was indeed a work by Salvador Dali, created in 1966. Its current value is estimated at between $26,000 and $40,000.
“The Old Sultan” — an illustration made using a mixed technique of watercolor and felt-tip pen — depicts a scene from Middle Eastern folklore, one of the episodes from the famous “One Thousand and One Nights.” In total, according to Dali’s idea, a series of 500 such paintings was planned, which were the result of his imagination and love for the fairy-tale East.
Interestingly, another item with strong emotional value was recently sold at auction: a sock worn by Michael Jackson during a performance in 1997, which went for over $8,000. The world of art and pop culture, as we can see, continues to surprise us with its legacy — even in the most unexpected places.
