UK NEWS

THE 50P PAINTING THAT IS NOW WORTH £50,000

WORK OF ART: The £50,000 painting

Wednesday May 14,2008

By Tom Fullerton

OF all the bargains snapped up at Glasgow’s famous “Barras” market over the decades, a painting bought 40 years ago for 10 shillings, or 50p in today’s money, must be the best by far.

The painting, entitled “Chopping logs outside a snow-covered cabin”, is expected to fetch up to £50,000 when it is sold at auction by Lyon and Turnbull in Edinburgh on May 29.

That represents a vast 10 million per cent profit for the lucky owner, who wishes to remain anonymous. “I often browse through the Barras and bought the painting simply because I liked it,” he said.

“I am surprised and delighted that my find has turned out to be such a worthwhile investment.”

The painting, by Cornelius David Krieghoff, depicts a log cabin in the Dutch artist’s adopted home of Canada, and will be put on public view at Pollok House, Pollokshaws, before the sale.

Nick Curnow, managing director and head of pictures at Lyon and Turnbull, said “It is the sort of find everybody dreams of.

“Krieghoff is one of Canada’s most accomplished and important artists.