A previously lost painting by American surrealist Gertrude Abercrombie, titled Alderman Merriam's Shells, has been rediscovered after being purchased for just $30, according to Smithsonian magazine. The 1951 work depicts nine seashells belonging to Robert Merriam, a Chicago City Council alderman.
The owner contacted art historian Susan Weininger, a leading authority on Abercrombie's work, who confirmed the painting's authenticity. Weininger's verification establishes the piece as a genuine Abercrombie, adding it to the artist's known catalogue.
The painting is now set to head to auction, though the auction house, estimated sale price, and sale date have not been disclosed. Abercrombie, who died in 1977, was a self-taught Chicago artist associated with the surrealist and jazz circles of her time.
Further details about the auction and the painting's provenance are expected to emerge as the sale approaches.
