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In 1942, a young Parisian woman fearing Nazi persecution fled to Southern France, leaving behind a lavish apartment in Paris that she would never return to. Seventy years later, its hidden trove of artwork and vintage things has finally been exposed for the first time.
The owner of the abandoned home died three years ago at the age of 91, which is when the owner’s executor sent a team to investigate the apartment she left behind. They found a wonderfully-preserved and sumptuous Parisian style apartment filled with beautiful antiques and oil paintings.
One piece, however, stood out from the rest of the artistic and historical relics – 19th-century famous painter Giovanni Boldini’s portrait of his muse, Marthe de Florian. In the painting, this famous Parisian socialite and actress is depicted wearing a beautiful and revealing pink muslin dress. The painting was painted in 1888 when de Florian was just 24 years old. The painting itself has been valued at roughly $3.4 million.
In an interesting twist befitting of such a discovery, it turns out that the abandoned place’s late owner was none other than Marthe de Florian’s granddaughter. It is by the love notes, and letters between de Florian and Boldini found at the apartment that the woman in the painting was identified.
via: twistedsifter
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What do you think ?
Sherrie Dobbie 2 years ago
Understanding that this apartment is real and its contents either still there or sold at auction, I wish there was a non fictional book about them unlocking the dwelling and how things panned out afterward. I loved the semi fictional story but do wish something more factual had been published about this wonderful secret French home.
Rebecca Brock 3 years ago
There is a book (fictional) about this apartment and painting. I it is called The Velvet Hours by Alyson Richman. A very good and interesting book. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/313620/the-velvet-hours-by-alyson-richman/
Sherrie Dobbie 2 years ago
Understanding that this apartment is real and its contents either still there or sold at auction, I wish there was a non fictional book about them unlocking the dwelling and how things panned out afterward. I loved the semi fictional story but do wish something more factual had been published about this wonderful secret French home.
Rebecca Brock 3 years ago
There is a book (fictional) about this apartment and painting. I it is called The Velvet Hours by Alyson Richman. A very good and interesting book. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/313620/the-velvet-hours-by-alyson-richman/
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