The Enigmatic Case of Caravaggio’s “Lost Masterpiece”

In: Art and Design, Decorative & Applied Arts, Design News
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An art expert is adamant that Italian master Caravaggio painted Judith Beheading Holofernes which was found in an attic in France. Photograph: Charles Platiau/Reuters
An art expert is adamant that Italian master Caravaggio painted Judith Beheading Holofernes which was found in an attic in France. Photograph: Charles Platiau/Reuters

A Brushstroke of Mystery

In an unexpected turn of events, a painting presumed to be Caravaggio’s lost masterpiece, “Judith and Holofernes,” was acquired by a private buyer just days before auctioning it in France. The painting, often referred to as the Caravaggio old bed discovery, was discovered beneath an old mattress in a Toulouse attic. It has been a subject of intense scrutiny and debate among art experts.

The Players in the Drama

Eric Turquin, a French authority on Old Masters, appraised the painting between €100m and €150m ($170m). This is despite ongoing scepticism from Italian specialists. Local auctioneer Marc Labarbe, who unearthed the artwork while valuing “old things in the attic,” revealed that the buyer was affiliated with a major museum. Interestingly, the painting was known as the ‘Caravaggio old bed’ ever since its discovery.

The Question of Authenticity

The controversy doesn’t just stop at the buyer’s identity. While Turquin is convinced that the painting is an original Caravaggio, others suspect it may be a replica by Flemish artist Louis Finson. Finson collaborated with Caravaggio. Turquin argues that the painting’s alterations during its creation suggest it is an original. He states, “Copyists don’t make changes like that. They copy.” The old bed discovery of what might be a Caravaggio adds to this debate.

From Rome to Toulouse

The painting marks a pivotal moment in Caravaggio’s career. It contrasts his earlier, more formal work on the same theme, which hangs in Rome’s Palazzo Barberini. The anonymity surrounding the painting’s previous owners has led to speculation that an ancestor who served in Napoleon’s army may have brought it to France. Discovering a Caravaggio in an old bed shifted perceptions of how his artwork travelled.

Destination Unknown

While the painting was designated a “national treasure” in France, an export ban was not renewed. This made it possible for the artwork to leave the country. Whether it turns out to be a genuine Caravaggio or not, the painting’s sudden pre-auction acquisition adds another layer to its already complex history. As part of a fascinating narrative, this old bed discovery intrigues the art world.

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