“Mystery Masterpiece: 350-Year-Old Caravaggio Unveiled from Dusty Attic Hideaway in France!”
Ever glanced into an attic and thought to yourself, “Hmm, maybe I should check if there’s a piece of priceless art just chilling somewhere in here?” Well, one lucky French family did just that, and to their astonishment, they stumbled upon a 16th-century painting collecting more dust than a neglected Swiffer duster. Imagine their surprise when this dusty relic was not just any old canvas, but a potential Caravaggio—what some believe might fetch a jaw-dropping $170 million at auction!
This isn’t just any old painting; it’s the big C’s Judith and Holofernes, portraying one dramatic beheading scene in Italy circa 1607. The thought process of verifying its authenticity and provenance would have given Sherlock Holmes a run for his money. Let’s dive into the tale of how a family in Toulouse, France, went from possibly keeping their spilled ink and old CDs to hosting a party with an invaluable work of art as the guest of honor.
How did it get there, you ask?
After a painstaking five-year journey of authentication, restoration, and analysis, it turns out this masterpiece survived years of neglect, remaining hidden away until 2014, when it was finally rediscovered. Initially thought by some to be aéo-by Artemisia Gentileschi, (an art historical genieus and Caravaggio’s influencee, esxcuse the slight typo there), but after in-depth examinations, it was labeled an authentic Caravaggio, sparking a global debate that only a treasure of this magnitude could inspire.
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It took five years of verification and restoration to prepare the 1607 Caravaggio for auction. It is expected to go for $170 million.
Wikimedia Commons/Eric TurquinA 16th- century painting by Italian Baroque artist Caravaggio was recently discovered collecting dust in an attic.
Sometimes the most valuable treasures are hiding in plain sight, which was certainly the case with a French family when they discovered a priceless painting thought to be lost forever in their attic.
According to Artsy, after going through a strenuous five-year authentication, cleaning, and analysis process, the artwork has been verified by authorities to be an original piece by Italian Baroque master Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.
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