In the attic? Seriously?

 

Well, without going into details, I did have something like this happen to me, but not nearly as exciting as finding an original Turner in the attic.

Forgotten J.M.W. Turner Watercolor Discovered in an Attic

The painter, renowned for his atmospheric landscapes, created the sketch of Hampton Court Castle in England when he was about 21

"How did Turner’s sketch of Hampton Court end up in a Kinsham Court attic?

In the early 19th century, the inventor and industrialist Richard Arkwright purchased Hampton Court. The property remained in the family’s possession until the early 20th century, when they sold it and moved to Kinsham Court. They likely brought the painting along with them.

Arkwright’s descendants found the watercolor in Kinsham’s attic, where it had been “stuck amongst the middle” of other watercolors and hunting prints, which were “nothing very exciting, to be honest,” as Pearn tells BBC Hereford and Worcester. The family then handed the file to [auction house art expert] Pearn, who immediately identified it as a Turner sketch. He says that recognizing the Romantic master’s work was easy."

"Created in the late 18th century, the artwork depicts nearby Hampton Court Castle in Herefordshire. The 12.5- by 17-inch piece is expected to sell for between £30,000 and £50,000 ($38,000 and $63,000) at auction next month."