$12 Sketch Sparks Art World Buzz: Could This Be a Hidden Renoir Masterpiece?
Well, if this isn’t a riveting tale of fate and thrift store treasures, I don’t know what is! A humble $12 sketch, purchased at a Montgomery County auction in January 2025, has sent ripples through the art community with the tantalizing possibility that it might be a previously unknown work by the illustrious Impressionist, Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Heidi Markow, the savvy owner of Salvage Goods in Easton, Pennsylvania, stumbled upon this potential masterpiece while hunting for items for her antique store. The signature on the sketch? Oh, just a casual “Renoir”—no biggie!
The sketch has a juicy backstory, too. It was once owned by the Madeira family, known for their significant contributions to the Philadelphia art scene, including a generous donation of 22 Impressionist pieces to the Philadelphia Museum of Art back in 1963. The last owner of this drawing, the late Helen Tyson Madeira, was not just any art collector—she was a descendant of John A. Roebling, the genius behind the Brooklyn Bridge. Talk about art royalty!
Markow, who knows a thing or two about appraisal (she’s got her Certificate of Appraisal from The Asheford Institute of Antiques), claims this sketch may depict Renoir’s wife, Aline Charigot, capturing her enchanting features with masterful shading and soft lines. Given that Aline was a muse for many of Renoir’s works, this sketch could potentially be an intimate glimpse into the couple’s world.
Markow is now contemplating the next steps, aiming to submit this find to the Wildenstein Plattner Institute’s catalog. She’s on a mission to ensure this artwork gets the spotlight it deserves, whether that’s through a museum display or selling it to a true connoisseur. The drama surrounding this sketch is a reminder that history often holds its secrets close, only to reveal them when we least expect it. So, art enthusiasts, keep your eyes peeled—who knows what treasures are lurking in those dusty auctions?
Class dismissed. Remember, the next time you’re at a thrift store, you might just unearth the next big art sensation!
Sources: Celebrity Storm
