Monroe Gallery Uncovers 17th Century Painting

A 17th century Italian work of art hung undisturbed for nearly half a century before it was identified by Newtown resident Jack DeStories and sold at auction in Monroe last weekend.

The painting, a small depiction of The Madonna and Child, believed to be the work of Giovanni Battista Salvi, also known as Sassoferrato, was sold for $184,000 on Sept. 18 by Fairfield Auction in Monroe.

Sassoferrato, whose works of art can be found in The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Louvre in Paris, is well known for his Virgin Mother and child depictions. The painting hung on the walls of a summer cottage nestled along the Connecticut shoreline until discovered during a routine house call in July, said DeStories, who, along with his wife, runs an antiques auction house formerly located in Newtown.

DeStories said he immediately knew he had a special painting on his hands.  

“We saved the painting an extra two months so it could be fully advertised to the European market and it looks like it paid off,” DeStories said in a press release.

Several European bidders and an American museum vied for the work, but in the end it sold to a collector in the sales room, according to DeStories. He said the seller and bidder asked for anonymity.