A Pennsylvania woman may have unknowingly purchased an original work by celebrated French Impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir for just $12 at an auction earlier this year.
Heidi Markow, owner of Salvage Goods Antiques in Easton, discovered the framed charcoal drawing of a seated woman while attending an auction in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in January. Despite not recognizing its significance at the time, Markow was captivated by the piece. “I didn’t know what it was, I just knew that I wanted it,” she told ABC News.
The artwork, which was listed among pieces fetching bids in the thousands, stood out to Markow. However, she was able to acquire it for just $12. Upon bringing it home, she noticed a faint signature on the artwork resembling the name “Renoir,” potentially linking it to the famed 19th-century French painter who, alongside Claude Monet, pioneered the Impressionist movement.
Additional details further hinted at the drawing’s potential authenticity. The high-quality frame bore a stamp from an art and antiques importer, along with documentation suggesting it had once been sold to a Pennsylvania-based collector. Markow chronicled her findings in a blog post on her store’s website.
Following months of research, Markow reached out to Sotheby’s auction house, which recommended an art appraiser. The appraiser concluded that the drawing was likely an original Renoir.
To verify its authenticity, Markow has submitted the piece to the Wildenstein Plattner Institute, a New York-based nonprofit specializing in art history research and authentication. The institute is scheduled to review the artwork on April 10, 2025.
“I don’t think it’s quite hit me yet,” Markow told NBC10 in Philadelphia. If confirmed as a Renoir, she noted, “It can go for six figures, seven figures.” Should the authentication be successful, Markow hopes to sell the artwork to a collector who appreciates its historical and artistic value.
