LONDON.- A Munich School masterpiece by the Greek painter, Georgios Jakobides (1852-1932), which has been hidden from the public eye for over a century, and was recently discovered in a private collection in Athens, is to be sold at Bonhams, New Bond Street, as part of The Greek Sale on 23 November 2010. Entitled Peek-a-boo, it has attracted a pre-sale estimate of £150,000 – 200,000.

The painting, which was unexpectedly discovered on a normal house valuation, was last seen in public when it was exhibited at the prestigious Glaspalast in Munich in 1896 under the title Versteckspiel and shown at the Zappeion Hall in Athens three years later by the title Kryftoulaki. A review of the latter show in the 3 March 1989 edition of Embros stated: ‘Jakobides incorporates two distinct qualities - that of the realist who faithfully depicts the world of appearances and that of the idealist who glorifies it. This duality is readily revealed in Peek-a-boo.'

Another sale highlight is Nikolaos Lytras’ (1883-1927) The milk, which has attracted a pre-sale estimate of £120,000 – 150,000. Considered to be one of his most important works, it was selected to represent Lytras’ work in an exhibition organised by the Greek Ministry of Culture in 1993 at the National Gallery in Athens. The painting comes to Bonhams from a private collection.

Other important lots include Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika’s Dancing School (estimate £190,000 – 250,000) and Leaves over dry torrent (estimate £130,000 – 180,000); and Diamantis Diamantopoulos’ Boy in sailor’s suit (estimate £120,000 – 160,000).