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Axel Ruger and Louis van Tilborgh unveil the painting this morning. AP Photo/Peter Dejong

Long-lost Van Gogh painting unveiled in Amsterdam

The 1888 painting was abandoned for years as a forgery in an attic in Norway.

AMSTERDAM’S VAN GOGH Museum today unveiled a newly discovered landscape painting from the height of the Dutch master’s career, abandoned for years as a forgery in a Norwegian attic.

Sunset at Montmajour, a large oil landscape from 1888, was unveiled to applause by the museum’s director Axel Rueger as a “unique experience that has not happened in the history of the Van Gogh Museum.”

Depicting a landscape of oaks in the south of France, the painting was brought to the museum from a private collection.

Researchers set to work and authenticated it based on comparisons with Van Gogh’s techniques and a letter he wrote on July 4 1888, in which he described the painting.

It had been lying for years in the attic of a Norwegian collector who thought the painting was a forgery, after buying it in 1908.

image

(AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

“This discovery is more or less a once in a lifetime experience,” said researcher Louis van Tilborgh, who helped with its authentication, adding:

All research indicates that this is a painting by Van Gogh.

The long-lost painting was made at around the same time as some of Van Gogh’s most famous works, including Sunflowers and The Bedroom.

“This is a very, very special morning and you’re seeing a very, very happy director in front of you,” Rueger told AFP.

When I was told that it had been authenticated as a genuine Van Gogh I could not believe it.

The museum declined to be drawn on the identity of the mystery collectors.

image

(AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

“Unfortunately we cannot divulge too much about the identity of this collector as we need also to protect his privacy,” Rueger said.

But what I can tell you is that the painting has been lying in the attic for most of this time.

The newly unveiled Van Gogh will go on display on September 24, on a year-long loan from its owner.

With its reopening, the museum expects to attract some 1.2 million visitors over the next year and is one of the world’s 25 most popular museums, according to the City of Amsterdam.

The Van Gogh Museum was the last of Amsterdam’s three major museums to reopen its doors after extensive refurbishments, underlining the Dutch capital’s status as a top art destination.

- © AFP, 2013

Video: Vincent van Domino: ‘Starry Night’ takes a tumble >

Read: Art thieves steal 7 masterpieces from Dutch museum >

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    Mute Paolo Fandango
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    Oct 25th 2022, 9:26 AM

    There is this amazing new technology called ‘text messaging’. I think it’s scientific secret code name is SMS

    Some say it could be a game changer for when you want to send a short text based communique to a person who also owns a ‘mobile phone’

    Can’t see it catching on myself to be honest.

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    Mute transik
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    Oct 25th 2022, 11:33 AM

    @Paolo Fandango: buddy i will buy you a pint. Today . If you show me how to text video or photo.your turn.

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    Mute David Reilly
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    Oct 25th 2022, 11:37 AM

    @transik: MMS

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    Mute Alan Kenny
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    Oct 25th 2022, 11:53 AM

    @transik: Most Text apps now you can send photos, GIFs, Videos. I do it all the time.

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    Mute Paolo Fandango
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    Oct 25th 2022, 1:11 PM

    @transik: unless you’re using a Nokia 3310, this is already a feature of your phones native messaging abilities.

    Where we getting that pint then?

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    Mute Bri Lyons
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    Oct 25th 2022, 1:26 PM

    @transik: you can txt photo .. it’s called mms

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    Mute Ashling Fenton
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    Oct 25th 2022, 1:40 PM

    @Paolo Fandango: Jesus at what point did the youth forget what an SMS and MMS are?!!!!

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    Mute Alan
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    Oct 25th 2022, 1:41 PM

    @Paolo Fandango: have one on me… https://images.app.goo.gl/9xJbem3ygJGS4Yng9

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    Mute Diarmuid Hunt
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    Oct 25th 2022, 1:47 PM

    @Ashling Fenton: I doubt the youth have forgotten, just never encountered it or had the need for it.

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    Mute Paolo Fandango
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    Oct 25th 2022, 2:12 PM

    @Alan: if the pints at your local are that good then let’s find a comfy perch and sink a good skin full.

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    Mute Cat K.
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    Oct 25th 2022, 2:23 PM

    @Paolo Fandango: Many people don’t have free texts and rely on WhatsApp or other online messaging platforms

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    Mute Paolo Fandango
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    Oct 25th 2022, 3:58 PM

    @Cat K. Indeed, as you say there are other messaging platforms. They didn’t all go down today. Just WhatsApp.

    And if you didn’t have free texts then the simple solution is to buy some phone credit.

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    Mute UK Hurling Bloke
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    Oct 25th 2022, 4:28 PM

    @transik: you’re gonna be buying a lot of pints buddy

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Oct 25th 2022, 6:56 PM

    @Paolo Fandango: Not to mention that if you’re offline or out of data, you can still text!

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Oct 25th 2022, 6:58 PM

    @Cat K.: loads of websites offer free texting, as I discovered as a skint student.

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    Mute aidan mccormack
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    Oct 25th 2022, 9:09 AM

    Its mad, You don’t realise how much you use it until its not working.

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    Mute Justin Gillespie
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    Oct 25th 2022, 9:23 AM

    @aidan mccormack: Back to the old payphone with the A & B buttons.

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    Mute Aunties
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    Oct 25th 2022, 9:54 AM

    @aidan mccormack: it’s BACK !!!

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    Mute Seanie Bourke
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    Oct 25th 2022, 9:19 AM

    Wats my bebo password again

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    Mute The Thinker
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    Oct 25th 2022, 9:22 AM

    @Seanie Bourke: Bebo, Ireland’s own social media page

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    Mute Colm Connolly
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    Oct 25th 2022, 2:07 PM

    @The Thinker: you know it wasn’t irish it just seemed like the Irish were the only ones to use it

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    Oct 25th 2022, 9:10 AM

    Those sneaky f-ing Russians

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    Oct 25th 2022, 9:27 AM

    I was going to share this article but …

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    Mute Aunties
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    Oct 25th 2022, 9:35 AM

    @Mattress Dick: lol (insert emoji)

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    Mute Max Power
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    Oct 25th 2022, 10:13 AM

    We need more data centers so this won’t happen again.

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    Mute Dr. Emmett Lathrop Brown
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    Oct 25th 2022, 9:15 AM

    OMG, how am I going to survive the day, back my Bulletin Board System :)

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    Oct 25th 2022, 10:13 AM

    Whatsup?

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    Oct 25th 2022, 9:37 AM

    Can I communicate with my fantasy football group on the Journal comment section ?

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    Oct 25th 2022, 9:40 AM

    @Aunties: Ah steve. I’ve told you time and time again to take out Ronaldo. Let go of his past and realise he’s not gonna help you.

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    Oct 25th 2022, 2:17 PM

    My thoughts and prayers are with those who were affected. This is clearly the government’s fault. I hope Whatsapp users are receiving the support they need.

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    Oct 25th 2022, 9:59 AM

    Mick Dundee didn’t need any of this nonsense

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    Oct 25th 2022, 9:09 AM

    Time to go back to IRC – nobody owned that.

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    Oct 25th 2022, 1:12 PM

    goes to show how too many are addicted to it I don’t be on it constantly 2 hours too little I say

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    Oct 25th 2022, 10:42 AM

    It is working in Spain

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    Oct 25th 2022, 9:42 AM

    Haaland or Salah trips captain ?!? What u think Freddy

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    Oct 25th 2022, 9:10 PM

    VIBER

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    Mute Tacita O'Copa
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    Oct 26th 2022, 3:32 AM

    The Guardia Civil are un poco sarcástico.

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    Oct 26th 2022, 3:33 AM

    sarcástico

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