Over 85,000 Visitors Attend International Book Fair in Madinah

The fair was organized by the Literature and Authors Association under the supervision of the Saudi Ministry of Culture. SPA
The fair was organized by the Literature and Authors Association under the supervision of the Saudi Ministry of Culture. SPA
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Over 85,000 Visitors Attend International Book Fair in Madinah

The fair was organized by the Literature and Authors Association under the supervision of the Saudi Ministry of Culture. SPA
The fair was organized by the Literature and Authors Association under the supervision of the Saudi Ministry of Culture. SPA

The International Book Fair 2024, which took place at the Islamic University of Madinah, concluded its activities on Wednesday, with over 85,000 visitors attending this year's edition.

The fair was organized by the Literature and Authors Association under the supervision of the Saudi Ministry of Culture and was held under the theme "The Book is a Window to Life."

The fair lasted seven days and saw the participation of over 130 publishing houses from inside and outside the Kingdom, 10 Saudi universities, seven cultural centers, and at least 15 charitable societies.
The book fair's program was diverse and rich, offering a variety of intellectual and cultural activities for different segments of society. The activities included panel discussions with intellectuals and writers discussing contemporary cultural issues. The cultural program also featured specialized writing, publishing, and translation workshops, diverse lectures, and poetry evenings.



From Attic to Auction: A Rembrandt Painting Sells for $1.4m in Maine

This undated photo provided by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries shows a 17th century painting, "Portrait of a Girl," by the Dutch artist Rembrandt, which was sold at auction for $1.4 million on Aug. 24 by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries in Thomaston, Maine. (Thomaston Place Auction Galleries via AP)
This undated photo provided by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries shows a 17th century painting, "Portrait of a Girl," by the Dutch artist Rembrandt, which was sold at auction for $1.4 million on Aug. 24 by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries in Thomaston, Maine. (Thomaston Place Auction Galleries via AP)
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From Attic to Auction: A Rembrandt Painting Sells for $1.4m in Maine

This undated photo provided by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries shows a 17th century painting, "Portrait of a Girl," by the Dutch artist Rembrandt, which was sold at auction for $1.4 million on Aug. 24 by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries in Thomaston, Maine. (Thomaston Place Auction Galleries via AP)
This undated photo provided by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries shows a 17th century painting, "Portrait of a Girl," by the Dutch artist Rembrandt, which was sold at auction for $1.4 million on Aug. 24 by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries in Thomaston, Maine. (Thomaston Place Auction Galleries via AP)

A Rembrandt discovered in an attic sold for $1.4 million.

The 17th century painting, “Portrait of a Girl,” by Dutch artist Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was discovered by art appraiser and auctioneer Kaja Veilleux in an attic in an estate in Camden, Maine. A label on the back of the frame noted that it was loaned to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for an exhibition in 1970.

“On house calls, we often go in blind, not knowing what we’ll find,” he said in a statement. “The home was filled with wonderful pieces but it was in the attic, among stacks of art, that we found this remarkable portrait.”

Rembrandt, born in 1606, was a prolific artist who focused on a variety of subjects, from portraits to landscapes to historical and biblical scenes.

“Portrait of a Girl” was painted on an oak panel and mounted in a hand-carved gold Dutch frame, said Veilleux.

An auction by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries yielded a fierce competition on Aug. 24, he said. In the end, a European collector paid $1.41 million for the painting.