A recent discovery has turned into a potential goldmine for Robert Curtis, a 33-year-old man from the UK.
After the passing of his grandfather, Curtis was sorting through his grandfather’s home when he stumbled upon a painting on the wall that might be more valuable than he first imagined. He posted about it on Reddit, where many shared their estimates of the artwork’s worth—and the amounts are jarring. Curtis spoke to Newsweek about the discovery and his next steps in getting the painting appraised.
According to Curtis, his grandfather, who was a senior civil servant, had a great appreciation for art but didn’t buy pieces with the intention of financial gain.
Robert Curtis
“He did collect art, but he only ever bought pieces that he genuinely liked, rather than by their deemed value,” Curtis said. The painting, which had been hanging in the house for years, is by renowned artist Alberto Morrocco, a Scottish painter famous for his Mediterranean beach scenes.
Curtis said that his initial reaction to the artwork’s value was one of surprise.
“We thought it may hold some value, but certainly not as high as some experts are suggesting,” he said. The painting, a Mediterranean beach scene with boats and figures, could be worth a significant amount of money, as paintings by Morrocco featuring such scenes have performed well at auctions.
One example, Picnic on the Beach (2024), sold for $54,460, according to art information service MutualArt. Prices for Morrocco’s work at auctions have gone up to $70,850, depending on size, medium and ownership history. This sales history indicates that Curtis’ discovery could be worth tens of thousands of dollars. His next step is to have the painting appraised to confirm its authenticity.
In the days following his discovery, Curtis was contacted by representatives from Sotheby’s and Bonhams, both prestigious art and antiques businesses. These inquiries have sparked conversations about getting the piece appraised, though the process is still in its early stages.
“When the time is right, one of those [businesses] will help in appraising the artwork,” he said. If confirmed as authentic, Curtis may face the dilemma of whether to keep the painting or sell it. “It might turn out to be quite expensive to insure, so selling might be the course of action,” he said. “However, we’ve not yet made that decision.”
The painting’s value, though, has led some commenters to urge caution.
“Sorry for your loss,” one person wrote. “If I might recommend, get it appraised and do not sell this. Hang it up and appreciate what it is. Get it insured after appraisal. Great piece of art and you’ll find it very hard to replace that later in life—likely it’ll only appreciate in value.”
Another commenter highlighted how well his grandfather had chosen the artwork: “Oh my gosh, that’s lovely, and I’m very sorry you’ve lost your Grandpa,” they wrote. “He obviously had a good eye. Make sure that treasure is well insured.”
While Curtis is still figuring out the next steps, it looks like the painting could certainly become a treasured part of Curtis’s family’s legacy, just as it was for his late grandfather.
