'Lost Renoir' Found At Flea Market

Hi there! Glad you were able to find time to click by today. Pour yourself a mug of freshly brewed Arabica and sink your teeth into one of those virtual treats on the tray over there. Wait! Take it off the tray first! I like flea markets, don't you? Darn right! You never know what kind of bargain you are going to find. Chances are you'll find a whole lot of things you didn't know you needed till you saw them. May you someday be as lucky as this lady...

A painting believed to be an original Renoir has been discovered at a flea market in the US state of Virginia. Experts think the work of art is the Paysage Bords De Seine, one of the artist's river scenes painted along the Seine in Paris.

The woman who found it bought it for $7.

The painting is now set to be auctioned later this month and is expected to fetch more than $100,000 (£60,000).

A Renoir plaque on the frame prompted the woman to have it analysed.

Anne Craner - director of fine arts at the auctioneers Potomack, based in Virginia - said: "The lady brought it in; she was very excited, but she didn't know. She opened up the bag and straight away it just looked right.

"I mean it's the colour, it's the vibrant colour, it's the pinks and the purples. Renoir is known for his rapid brush strokes. And colour is really important with Renoir."

Wasn't it Renoir who was deemed to be 'in Seine'? (Ouch!)

See ya, eh!

Bob