Caravaggio’s Newest Controversy: Another Judith?
Breaking news out of Paris: Expert Eric Turquin believes he has identified a lost painting by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610) that has been sequestered in an attic in Toulouse for over a century’s time.
A substantial composition depicting a variation of the narrative of Judith Beheading Holofernes, the work has been undergoing scrupulous observation in Paris for the past two years. While more analysis is to be performed, Turquin remains confident in his attribution. As reported by Victoria Stapley-Brown and Francine Guillou in The Art Newspaper:
“There is no consensus [on attribution], and I’m not looking for a consensus,” says Turquin. “In 2003, there were still criticisms on the Dublin work [The Taking of Christ attributed to Caravaggio in 1991]. Caravaggio is an artist who lends himself to controversy.”
Read more here:
- Victoria Stapley-Brown, Francine Guillou, “Expert claims painting uncovered in a Toulouse attic is by Caravaggio” (artnewspaper.com)
- Angelique Chrisafis, “’Lost Caravaggio’ found in French attic causes rift in the art world” (theguardian.com)
- Eric Bietry-Rivierre, “Exclusif: la photo du <
> Caravane découvert dans un grenier ” (lefigaro.fr)
Photo Credits:
Eric Turquin at a press conference in front of the painting in question (image courtesy of artnewspaper.com)
X-radiograph photography produced by Turquin of the painting in question (image courtesy of lefigaro.fr)
Posted by Alexis Culotta