Article: Bidding war betrays mystery artist of Rembrandt portrait; Last laugh: The artist was Rembrandt all along.

Byline: LUKE SALKELD

THERE was never any doubt about the subject of Lot 377.

To auctioneers who valued it at [pounds sterling]1,500, however, the identity of the artistbehind this picture of Rembrandt was a mystery.

But yesterday, as the portrait went for [pounds sterling]3.14million, that mystery appeared tohave been solved.

The 17th century gilt-framed piece, entitled The Young Rembrandt as Democrates- the Laughing Philosopher, has been in a private house in Cotswolds, southwestEngland, for 50 years.

And as the sellers could not prove it was a genuine Rembrandt, it was listedwith a guide price of a1,500 to a2,100.

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