'Hitler' art on sale in Wakefield

Keith Lambert is almost certain the painting is genuine

A painting thought to be by Adolf Hitler is up for sale in Wakefield.

Depicting a mountain scene complete with chalet and snow-topped mountains, it is signed 'A. Hitler 1920'.

Current owner Keith Lambert, who says he has 'a fair knowledge' of art, is sure the small picture is genuine.

He explains: "I contacted the bloke who was selling it thinking he was having an absolute laugh. It turned out he had it stuck in his kitchen cupboard. He didn't know what to do with it."

Keith says he believes the painting is almost certainly a Hitler original from the 1920s, in the days before he put down his brushes for more notorious activities: "There's not a 100% certain way that you can actually prove it, short of taking out the UV [ultraviolet] test, the X-ray test, DNA testing and so on.

"What you have to do with it is to show it around to people in the art industry - sources you know and trust - and then take, shall we say, a general consensus.

At the end of the day some people will actually love it. Others will take one look at it and go, 'It's not for me.' Keith Lambert, art enthusiast

"It fits the time frame, it fits the period, it fits what he worked with. So, overall, it does appear to be the genuine article."

And what do people say once they find out they're holding a painting created by one of history's most notorious figures?

Keith says: "Initially it's, 'Wow! No. You're joking?' Then they have a look at it and then they say, 'Really? That's fascinating!' I've had very few people who have turned round and gone, 'Boo, hiss. Evil!'

"There's always been a more fascinated side to it. That's been from a historical point of view more than anything else."

Putting aside the horrors that this painting's creator went on to commit in the years after he put down his brush, how does Keith think this picture stands up to the critical eye? He takes a realistic view: "It's an area that's open to debate. As a picture goes, somebody very nicely described it as 'very quaint'.

What appears to be Hitler's signature is found on the painting

"At the end of the day some people will actually love it. Others will take one look at it and go, 'It's not for me.'"

But whatever one might think of the painting, it's the artist who is the key to how much this nondescript mountain scene is really worth.

Keith's now hoping to sell the picture but says he has no idea what someone will be willing to pay: "People will bandy around figures - anything from ten to twelve thousand upwards.

"But, at the end of the day, I think the price on it is going to be what the person who'd like to purchase it is prepared to pay."