What would you do if you stumbled upon something worth nearly a million dollars while walking down the street? This is exactly what happened to Elizabeth Gibson, an American woman who found a priceless painting by chance.
The story begins on the morning of Sunday, March 4, 2003. Elizabeth Gibson was on her way to get coffee as usual when she noticed a colorful canvas painting lying between two large trash bags in front of an apartment building in the northwest corner of Manhattan. She hesitated for a moment, debating whether to take it home or leave it behind due to its size. However, despite not understanding modern art, she decided to take it home. She had no idea of its significant artistic value, as it was surrounded by a cheap frame. She hung the painting in her living room but remained curious about it. The next day, she returned to the location to ask for information about the painting, but no one knew anything about it. Luckily, the trash truck came to pick up the bags, and if the painting had been there at that moment, it would have ended up in the trash.
Elizabeth kept the painting for three years, constantly asking about it. She contacted a friend who worked at an auction house, described the painting, and received some details. Elizabeth continued her quest, and a year later, she reached out to another friend who provided more information and advised her to visit a public library for further details. The librarian gave her an address for a Latin American art gallery. When she went there, she was told that the painting in her possession was missing and reported stolen, with a value of one million dollars.
Elizabeth was shocked and began to learn the story of the painting, which dated back to 1970 and was created by the renowned Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo. It had been stolen 20 years earlier from a Texas couple. The husband, a collector, bought it at an auction in 1977 as a birthday gift for his wife for $55,000. After ten years, while they were busy moving, they stored the painting in a warehouse for safekeeping, only to discover it was missing. They reported it stolen, and the image was published in the International Foundation for Art Research database with a $15,000 reward for information leading to its recovery. The couple eventually moved to South America, where the husband died, and the wife remained until the painting mysteriously reappeared in New York, found by Elizabeth.
After learning the story, Elizabeth carefully wrapped the painting and hid it, then contacted the owners to inform them of her discovery. A representative visited her home to verify the painting, which was returned to its rightful owners. Elizabeth received the $15,000 reward and additional undisclosed benefits.
To this day, no one knows how the painting was stolen, ended up in New York, or why it was discarded in such a manner. Perhaps fate played a role in this happy ending, with the painting returning to its owners and Elizabeth receiving a reward for her efforts in uncovering its history and preserving it.
