德国文艺复兴时期画作被卖30美元，价值却超一千万

A 16th century drawing by one of the key figures of the German Renaissance has been valued in excess of $10 million after it was initially purchased at a yard sale for just $30 in 2017. According to Agnews Gallery—the London auction house in possession of the artwork—Albrecht Dürer, who died in 1528, is regarded as both the greatest German artist of his time and as one of the most important artists and intellectuals of the European Renaissance. The drawing that has been rediscovered is titled “The Virgin and Child”. As Dürer’s career and legacy has been studied in depth since his death, it is extremely rare to find unknown works of his.

Boston-based art collector Clifford Schorer, who is a consultant to the gallery, added Thursday that he came across the rare artwork, thought to have been completed in 1503, by chance on the way to a party in Massachusetts in 2019. He had forgotten to bring a gift to the party and so went to a bookstore, which sold collectable volumes. The bookseller told him his friend had a Dürer drawing and asked if he would take a look at it. Schorer agreed, but held out little hope.

The artwork had been purchased at a yard sale at the home of an architect who had been gifted the piece from his art dealer father, Schorer said. “Generally speaking it’s an inverse(反向的) relationship between how dramatic the claim is and how much of a let down it is. For example if someone tells me they have a Leonardo da Vinci, I’m usually pretty confident I’m going to see some images that are unimpressive,” Schorer said.

But when he arrived to examine the artwork weeks later, he was taken aback by its quality. “It was like experiencing a kind of electricity. When you’re in my world you spend your life looking for unknown things that lead to fascinating research avenues... and I could see I was at the beginning of something extremely exciting,” Schorer said.

1.Why is it rare to find the unknown works of Albrecht Dürer’s?

A He was a key figure of the German Renaissance.

B His real works were only sold at the yard sales.

C His works were studied carefully after he died.

D He had few works like “The Virgin and Child”.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据文章第一段最后一句的“As Dürer’s career and legacy has been studied in depth since his death...”可以得知，他的作品已经被深度 研究过了，因此再发现有关他的未知画作，这是 很罕见的。故选 C。

2.What did Clifford Schorer do on his way to a party?

A He went to buy a gift.

B He collected old volumes.

C He went to a gallery.

D He visited his old friends.

解析：选A。A 推理判断题。根据文章第二段第二句的“He had forgotten to bring a gift to the party and so went to a bookstore, which sold collectable volumes”可以得 知他在去参加一场派对时忘了带礼物，因此去书 店肯定是想买礼物。故选 A。

3.Why did Clifford Schorer mention the example of Leonardo da Vinci?

A To show the value of Dürer’s drawing.

B To describe his contradictory feelings.

C To improve his own confidence in art.

D To show the painting is unimpressive.

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。根据文章第三段的“Generally speaking it’s an inverse relationship between how dramatic the claim is and how much of a let down it is”可以得知，一般来说宣称的东西越厉害其结果会越让人失望，因此他用达芬奇的作品来做例子 是想表达他在发现丢勒的作品时的矛盾感情。故 选 B。

4.The underlined phrase “taken aback” in the last paragraph may mean _____.

A sold

B shocked

C excited

D excused

解析：选B。B 词义猜测题。根据文章最后一段第二句的“It was like experiencing a kind of electricity”可知，这 种感觉就好像是被电击的感觉，由此推断当 Clifford Schorer 看到这幅画时，他对这幅画的质 量感到震惊。故选 B。