Royal Commission for AlUla Signs Cooperation Agreement with Jordan’s Petra National Trust

The Royal Commission for AlUla has signed a cooperation agreement with Jordan’s Petra National Trust to enhance the sustainable protection of ancient monuments. SPA
The Royal Commission for AlUla has signed a cooperation agreement with Jordan’s Petra National Trust to enhance the sustainable protection of ancient monuments. SPA
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Royal Commission for AlUla Signs Cooperation Agreement with Jordan’s Petra National Trust

The Royal Commission for AlUla has signed a cooperation agreement with Jordan’s Petra National Trust to enhance the sustainable protection of ancient monuments. SPA
The Royal Commission for AlUla has signed a cooperation agreement with Jordan’s Petra National Trust to enhance the sustainable protection of ancient monuments. SPA

The Royal Commission for AlUla has signed a cooperation agreement with Jordan’s Petra National Trust to enhance the sustainable protection of ancient monuments and encourage community participation in preserving landmarks of historical significance.
The agreement, signed in the Hegra area of AlUla, is part of a shared effort by both sides to care for and preserve their common human heritage. AlUla and Petra are both centers of the Nabatean civilization, which flourished in these areas.
The agreement includes the exchange of knowledge, skills, visits, and tours, as well as promoting education and community engagement in history, human heritage, and heritage preservation. It also explores new opportunities related to future strategies.
Both AlUla and Petra reflect the cultural creativity and architectural mastery of the ancient Nabateans. The Darb al-Bakrah route, which connects Hegra to Petra, reveals numerous inscriptions in languages such as Arabic and Nabatean, highlighting its significance and vital role in the area.
The agreement supports the Ruwat program, launched by the Royal Commission for AlUla, which offers cooperative training for citizens of AlUla.
Under the agreement, the Petra National Trust joins the commission's international partner network, which includes organizations such as UNESCO, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). These organizations contribute to preserving cultural and natural heritage.
This agreement further enhances partnerships with various Jordanian sectors, such as Royal Jordanian Airlines, which operates flights to AlUla, and Khammash Architects, part of the design and construction team developing the Sidrat AlUla project.



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.