17th century art discovered

Several paintings by master painters Frans Hals and Pieter Brueghel the Younger are found in private collections.

HAARLEM -- The Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem discovered five new paintings by the 17th century master. Four of the works were unknown paintings from private collections. The fifth, painted in 1640, was previously credited to students of Frans Hals.

Curator Pieter Biesboer and restorer Martin Bijl believe the five paintings were almost certainly painted by Frans Hals.  

Meanwhile, a painting by Flemish artist Pieter Brueghel the Younger was discovered during a recording of the Tussen Kunst & Kitsch (Between Art & Kitsch) television show. An expert believes the painting is real and estimates it is worth between EUR 80,000 and 100,000.

The owners of the work reportedly bought the painting for FL 100 from an antiques dealer in 1950.

The circular painting, 17 centimetres in diameter, dates from 1620 and depicts a peasant couple resting by a tree after making hay. The signature of the artist is seen on the trunk.