Portrait of Gogol for 200 million put up for sale in the Lower

An unusual offer appeared on a popular ad site: a resident of Nizhny Novgorod sells a portrait of Nikolai Gogol for 200 million rubles.

According to the seller, the work was painted in oil on canvas in the 1840s, presumably in Hamburg by a familiar artist; a subframe and frame have been preserved. The portrait allegedly did not undergo a full restoration - in the 1960s it was only covered with varnish. The owner assures that the work has never been put into scientific circulation and about 180 years was kept in families associated with its history - among them are called Troshchinsky, Gaidovsky-Potapovich and Bordyug. He says he has information about the whereabouts of the portrait and its associated individuals since at least 1914.

Of particular value, according to the seller, is not only the alleged authenticity of the work, but also its closed history - the ad called it "the only chance to see what Gogol hid about his private life." At the same time, no expert opinions, the results of art attribution or documentary confirmation of authenticity are given in the announcement.