Rare Schiele work to be auctioned

A rare painting by Austrian expressionist Egon Schiele that was once feared lost is expected to fetch from $7.1 million to $10.7 million when it is auctioned June 20, Christie’s auction house said Friday.

Owned by Austrian art collector Karl Gruenwald, “Wilted Sunflowers (Autumn Sun II)” was part of a collection of work stored in France that was confiscated and sold in 1942, four years after Gruenwald had fled to the country during World War II.

It was only when the painting’s most recent owner requested a valuation that the work was identified as the original. The owner wishes to remain anonymous and the painting was officially restituted to Gruenwald’s family in February, Christie’s said. Seven members of the Gruenwald family beamed for photographers Friday as they stood near the work in London.