The work, which shows the biblical heroine Judith beheading an Assyrian general, could be worth about 137 million dollars; thought that was painted in Rome in 1604
PARIS (Reuters) .- a painting found two years ago in the attic of a house in southeastern France was attributed to Italian master Caravaggio by Gauls private experts, who said the finding was an important event in the history of art.
the work, which shows the biblical heroine Judith beheading an Assyrian general, was found by homeowners near Toulouse while investigating a leak.
could be worth about 120 million euros (137 million dollars), the agency of art Eric Turquine said in a statement.
it is thought that the work was painted in Rome in 1604-1605 by Michelangelo Merisi, known as Caravaggio, and is in very good condition, said Eric Turquine, although it was forgotten in the attic probably more than 150 years.
“a painter is like us, you have tics, and in this (work) are all tics of Caravaggio. Not all, but many of them, enough to be sure that this is the hand, this is the writing of a great artist “Turquine told Reuters TV.
The owners of the painting had no idea that he was there until he went to the attic to check a leak in the roof, he said. “they had to break through the attic and a door that had never opened (…) they broke the door and was behind the painting. It’s really amazing, “he said.
The French authorities banned the work out of France, describing it in a decree as a painting of” great artistic value, which could be identified as a lost work by Caravaggio “.
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