Included in a recent sale of American and European paintings and works of art sale at Skinner (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) in Boston was this 7¼x 12¾in (19 x 32.5cm) oil on copper painting, ‘The Dispute’.

Extracted from Antiques Trade Gazette | Anne Crane

Unframed and unsigned and in less than pristine condition (it was catalogued as having has scattered multiple paint losses, craquelure and surface grime), it was ascribed to the school of the Italian artist Salvator Rosa (1615-73) with a very modest $800-1200 guide.

However, bidders at the auction on January 24 evidently found more to admire in the small work, taking the final hammer price to $27,000 (£20,770).