May 12, 2006, 14:41 GMT
Malaga, Spain - A Spanish art expert has discovered a previously unknown painting by Spanish master Francisco de Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828) on Britain's Isle of Man, news reports said Friday.
'The Rope', which was acquired for 18,000 euros (23,000 dollars) as an anonymous work 35 years ago, is worth 3 to 4 million euros, Paulino Gimenez estimated.
'The Rope', which shows a woman dressed in Roman-style clothing and holding a child looking down from a window, is believed to have been painted by Goya around 1770, when he was an art student in Italy.
The painting measuring 63 x 51 centimetres belongs to a British private collector who bought it in London.
The owner finally began suspecting the painting might have a link with Goya and called Malaga-based expert Paulino Gimenez, whose 10-month investigation led him to establish that the painting bore the hallmarks of Goya, such as a face hidden in it.
Goya created several works 'with the same characteristics, figures and composition,' Gimenez said.
The work was painted on an Italian-made linen canvas, backing other evidence that Goya created it while in Rome.
Gimenez has previously discovered 'The Immaculate' by Goya, a court painter whose bold and subversive vision made him a visionary ahead of his time.
Goya's best-known works include 'The Third of May 1808,' 'Saturn Devouring His Son,' 'The Nude Maja' and 'The Clothed Maja.' Many of his paintings are on display at Madrid's Prado art museum.
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