In 1942, during World War II, a Parisian girl left her apartment in the glamorous capital for the south of France to escape Nazi Germany and never returned despite regularly paying for it.
Nearly 70 years later, in 2010, the owner of the apartment passed away at the age of 91. Her heirs then sent a team to investigate the apartment she left behind. And they were stunned to discover the exquisite apartment filled with antiques and works of art hidden under a thick layer of dust after years of neglect.
One expert said it felt like “entering the Sleeping Beauty apartment where time has stood still since 1900.” Olivier Choppin-Janvry, who discovered the apartment, said it smelled like old dust.
Among the remaining assets, experts found a painting by the famous 19th-century Italian painter Giovanni Boldini, depicting his muse, Marthe de Florian. In the painting, Florian is extremely charming, indifferent in a thin pink dress. The painting was completed in 1894 when Florian was only 24 years old. Currently, this painting is estimated to be worth 3.4 million USD.
Portrait of Marthe de Florian
And another surprising discovery was revealed, the late owner of this luxurious apartment was none other than the granddaughter of Marthe de Florian.
