Friday, October 8, 2010

A Parisian Treasure Trove...

It is the kind of story you would expect to find in a romance or mystery novel...





Parisian flat containing €2.1 million painting lay untouched for 70 years

For 70 years the Parisian apartment had been left uninhabited, under lock and key, the rent faithfully paid but no hint of what was inside. 

 



Apparently the renter of the apartment left the South of France right before WWII... to never return... but continued to pay the rent for all these years.


What makes this story even more interesting is the mysterious painting found among the estate belongings of a beautiful woman in a pink muslin gown.  As the story progresses it is discovered that the muse in the painting is the grandmother of the apartment renter.  The woman was Marthe de Florian, a beautiful French actress and demimondaine, who had captured the fancy of more than a few admirers, and some very well known.  Through notes and documentations it was verified that the painting was created by Italian artist Boldini when she was 24 years of age.  He too was apparently smitten by her beauty and favors.










 What is amazing is that this apartment was left undisturbed for over 70 years... 

Even though there appears to be very little information available about the beautiful actress or her granddaughter... I think there is much more to this story that will be continued...



15 comments:

  1. What a fascinating "mystery"(?) I can't wait to hear more - how did you find this apartment?

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  2. I saw a mention of it on Yahoo news and did a search to find out more about it... isn't it fascinating?...

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  3. Unbelievable! Would love to hear the entire story!

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  4. OMG, this is an intriguing story to say the least. Amazing what happens sometimes in families of great wealth. Let us hear more.
    xx's

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  5. Would love to read more of the story.It is so fascinating to me that such stories and semi mysteries take place. So much wealth that you just forget about it. A couple years ago, a Rembrandt was found in an attic by the new owners of the property...

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  6. So when will we hear more?
    I am intrigued
    and fasinated by this story.
    Tell us more..
    Have a great weekend.

    yvonne

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  7. Such a lovely thought that the apartment had been there, just as it is, for all that time....xv

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  8. Hi Terri!
    I saw this on some blogs! Never tired of hearing about the story and the gentleman that bought the picture for way more than any Boldini ever sold.........HE must have fallen in love too! Maryanne

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  9. i heard about this and could not believe it... completely unbelievable...
    how could NO ONE have gone in there??? cannot wait to hear more!
    great post.. xx

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  10. more more more!!! It's like the story that surfaced a couple years ago about the barn filled with priceless sports cars. But better.

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  11. What a beautiful post and what a beautiful story of the painting. She was very beautiful and I'm sure had many admirers.

    xo

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  12. I knew the French are very private people... but I'm amazed that you cannot get any more details about the people involved in this story... I guess we will have to wait for the movie version to come out...

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  13. Hi Terri, this is an amazing story.. is there more to hear? Hope you are well, I haven't stopped by in a while but missing your voice!

    Kit

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  14. Happy Holiday. I sure miss your posts. Hope you are well and happy. I found out a little more on the subject. Not enough.. yvonne

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  15. absolutely fascinating....I'd love to hear more about that place and it's owner/renter!

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