A Norwegian art dealer who snapped up a painting because he liked the frame has been told it could be worth £35 million.
Reidar Osen bought the painting only because he wanted the frame for another picture.
He bought the portrait of a woman 23 years ago and was shocked when a visiting American art dealer noticed it and offered him millions for it.
Osen said he had always considered the painting pleasant, but "worthless" but now he's learned it could be a 400-year-old Italian masterpiece.
The US dealer says the painting is a copy of the famous female portrait Flora painted by Italian master Tizian between 1515 and 1520.
Tizian, who lived between 1488 and 1576, is considered one of the most important representatives of the Venetian Renaissance period.
First tests on the painting have shown that it is about 400 years old and Mr Osen is hoping it turns out to be a duplicate of the Flora created in Titzian's own workshop
Ananova
Reidar Osen bought the painting only because he wanted the frame for another picture.
He bought the portrait of a woman 23 years ago and was shocked when a visiting American art dealer noticed it and offered him millions for it.
Osen said he had always considered the painting pleasant, but "worthless" but now he's learned it could be a 400-year-old Italian masterpiece.
The US dealer says the painting is a copy of the famous female portrait Flora painted by Italian master Tizian between 1515 and 1520.
Tizian, who lived between 1488 and 1576, is considered one of the most important representatives of the Venetian Renaissance period.
First tests on the painting have shown that it is about 400 years old and Mr Osen is hoping it turns out to be a duplicate of the Flora created in Titzian's own workshop
Ananova