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How a Canadian auction house unravelled a Hudson’s Bay art collection mystery
Researchers traced the portrait through London archives and later exhibitions before deciding the 361-year-old work was by Peter Lely, not Anthony van Dyck.
- Heffel Fine Art Auction House has re-attributed a Hudson's Bay Company portrait of Prince Rupert to Dutch master Peter Lely, replacing the previous Anthony van Dyck studio credit ahead of a May sale.
- Staff at Heffel grew suspicious of the 'studio production' label while preparing the painting for a November auction. President David Heffel removed the piece from sale to investigate its true origins.
- Researchers scoured London archives, finding an 1821 letter and 1937 article supporting the Lely attribution. Expert David Franklin confirmed the brushwork was 'spontaneous and audacious,' noting it 'should never have been in doubt.'
- The painting hits the auction block on May 21 with an estimated value of up to $150,000, a sharp increase from previous estimates of $4,000 to $6,000 reflecting the confirmed Lely attribution.
- David Heffel described the discovery as 'a little bit like winning the Stanley Cup in Game 7,' adding that 'this painting in particular has opened a new paradigm of investigation and discovery' for the auction house.
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The Toronto StarReposted by 
The Globe & Mail
The Globe & MailHow a Canadian auction house unravelled a Hudson’s Bay art collection mystery
The oil-on-canvas estimated to be from around 1665 depicted Prince Rupert. The English Civil War commander became the first governor of the Hudson's Bay Co.
·Toronto, Canada
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How a Canadian auction house unravelled a Hudson's Bay art collection mystery
When Heffel Fine Art Auction House was getting ready to sell the second round of treasures from Canada’s oldest company, staff were so awe in of one of the paintings that they started to think it was worth an even deeper look.
·Canada
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Total News Sources6
Leaning Left3Leaning Right0Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left, 50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left, 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 50%
C 50%
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