An 11-year-old boy’s discovery of a 16th-century German Renaissance engraving at a rubbish dump could lead to a windfall of £20,000. Mat Winter spotted the black-and-white print titled ‘Knight, Death and the Devil’ among discarded items and asked the woman disposing of it if he could keep it. She agreed, and Mat took the A4-sized picture to his home in Cranbrook, Kent. Having kept it in a cupboard for 13 years, Mat recently had the engraving valued, only to find out it was the work of the renowned German artist Albrecht Dürer, known for his exceptional talent. Completed in 1513, ‘Knight, Death and the Devil’ is one of Dürer’s most famous and influential works.
Dürer, born in 1471 in Nuremberg, was a key figure of the Northern Renaissance and had connections with esteemed Italian artists like Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci. Mat, now 24, shared his excitement, recounting his early interest in antiques and the serendipitous find at the dump. The engraving is set to be auctioned by Rare Book Auctions in Lichfield, Staffs, with an estimated price range of £10,000 to £20,000. Director Jim Spencer expressed astonishment at the quality and authenticity of the artwork, emphasising its significance as a genuine Dürer piece.
One compelling feature confirming Dürer as the creator is a faint scratch on the horse’s head in the engraving. Spencer noted this detail and praised the work’s historical authenticity. Describing it as the most important print he has handled, Spencer highlighted the exceptional quality that pointed to Dürer’s handiwork. The auction for ‘Knight, Death and the Devil’ is scheduled for September 18, promising an exciting opportunity for art enthusiasts to acquire a piece of art history.