An art historian discovers that a painting he bought for 80 euros is a van Dyck valued at 50,000

British art historian

has discovered that a portrait he bought as a copy in 1970 of the Infanta of Spain

for just £ 65 (€ 77) could actually be an original 17th-century work

by him .

Flemish painter

, valued at about 40,000 pounds (47,947 euros).

According to several British media, Wright kept the supposed copy hanging in his living room for years without realizing its value.

"I bought it from a dealer in West London. I bought it as a copy, as an art historian. Strangely, I did not realize (the value)," recalls the expert when he reveals his story to the local press.

The painting is the portrait of the Infanta of Spain Isabel Clara Eugenia, which hung on the walls of Wright's home for years.

The story comes to light because the expert now wants this canvas to be exhibited in public institutions and has loaned it to the permanent exhibition of

, in

, with an extensive collection of Danish and Flemish paintings from the 17th century.

The historian has revealed to

newspaper that it was a friend of his, the European Art Curator at the

in

,

, who realized that the painting could actually be a Van Dyck original by looking closely at how the infanta's hands were drawn.

"He came to see me. We chatted. And he says, 'I think your painting is really a Van Dyck," recalls Wright, who admits that "when you have something, you don't pay attention to it."

When he acquired it, Wright assumed it was one of the many circulating copies of the portraits of the Infanta painted by the Flemish artist.

Encouraged by his friend, the British expert brought the canvas to

in London, where it was examined and restored.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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