­Van Gogh or not? Painting authenticity to be determined by DNA test

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Published time: August 10, 2012 09:10
Edited time: August 10, 2012 13:10

A DNA test is to reveal whether a suspected Van Gogh painting is the real thing. The owner of a controversial artwork might either become super rich, or just have a fake in his hands.

A human hair removed from the painting could soon crack another mystery of the art world, The Daily Telegraph reports. If the picture is attributed to the Dutch master Vincent Van Gogh, the painting might be worth around $60 million.

DNA in the red human hair will be compared with the DNA of Van Gogh’s living descendants to show whether he had a hand in the artwork.

“Still Life with Peonies” dating 1889 was discovered in a Belgian attic in 1977. For over four decades mystery surrounded the painting.

Cologne art collector Markus Roubrocks inherited it from his father and now wants to prove he owns one of the latest works of the great Dutch master, who took his own life in 1890.

While two independent art experts say it is likely to be correct, the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam isn’t convinced, saying the brush strokes are nothing like Van Gogh’s.

The red hair taken from the painting most likely belongs to whoever painted it, so the mystery could soon be solved.