Antiques Roadshow guest admits seven-figure painting was ‘behind a door' (2024)

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WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Antiques Roadshow.

Antiques Roadshow was paid a visit by the owner of an “important” painting which had been in his family for 80 years, unaware of its historical significance.

Expert Colleene Fesko had the job of appraising a “beautiful” oil painting belonging to a guest who shared it had been purchased by his great-grandparents in Mexico.

“Well it’s been in my family for over 80 years”, he explained.

“It was purchased somewhere around 1930 by my great-grandparents.

“And the painting for some time was in bad condition and it was hanging behind a door.”

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Antiques Roadshow guest admits ‘important’ seven-figure painting was ‘behind a door’ (Image: PBS)

“Behind a door?” Fesko questioned, with the visitor commenting: “Behind a door in the house. If that door was open, then you couldn’t see the painting.”

Fesko went on to give some more details about the painting, stating that it was painted in 1904 by Diego Rivera who was “arguably one of the most important Latin American 20th Century artists”.

She shared there had only been three or four paintings from Rivera that were known from this “early time”, highlighting its rarity.

“It’s a wonderful period, early 20th Century painting but it also gives hints of his mural style, his technique.

“And even more so, in a way, his subject matter, which were the workers of Mexico. A really terrific image.”

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A guest brought in a 1904 oil painting by Diego Rivera (Image: PBS)

In the bottom right-hand corner, Rivera had signed it with Fesko pointing out how it was a “very young man’s signature”, as the artist was only 18 at the time when he painted the piece.

She continued: “The research that we found in the authentication process of it is that it had been missing in the records of Mexico City, it was unknown.

“‘Where’s the painting? Where is El Albanil?’ Which is the labourer.

“It was an important painting for him in 1904 and then disappeared from 1930 to roughly 1995 or 1996 when it was exhibited and authenticated.”

Some restoration work had been done, replacing the canvas backing but Fesko insisted it was in a “very fine, restored condition”.

A Diego Rivera painting was valued at a range between $800,000 to $1million (Image: PBS)

Summarising, Fesko stated: “Well, I think you have something of a painting trifecta here.

“The painting itself is by a very famous artist, it has a terrific history of being purchased in Mexico in 1930 and it’s a very beautiful and important painting.

“So trifectas usually pay pretty well.

“I would be putting a retail estimate on the piece of between $800,000 and $1million.”

The guest appeared gobsmacked, clearly not expecting the painting’s real worth.

“Seriously? Oh my gosh. Oh wow, unbelievable. I did not expect that.

“I’m astounded, I really don’t know what to say.”

As the camera once again focused on the artwork, Fesko could be heard saying: “Behind a door?” to which the guest reiterated: “Behind a door, it was behind a door.”

Antiques Roadshow is available to watch on PBS.

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