A portray that had been up for public sale for simply €1,500 (£1,285) has been confirmed as a misplaced work of Italian grasp Michaelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.
Spain‘s Prado Museum says the work titled Ecce Homo – which implies behold the person in Latin – was as a result of be auctioned in April 2021 as a portray by Seventeenth-century Spanish artist Jose de Ribera.
However earlier than it may go underneath the hammer at a Madrid public sale home, Spanish authorities imposed an export ban on the portray after the museum alerted the federal government it may very well be a Caravaggio.
The portray is considered one of solely 60 Caravaggio work identified to exist, the museum mentioned, and its true worth may stretch into tens of tens of millions of euros.
It dates again to 1605-09 and is believed to have as soon as been a part of the non-public assortment of Spanish king Phillip IV of Spain, the Prado added, and it’ll go on show from 27 Could till October.
“For our half, we’re more than pleased to be the stage to current this new unshown work of Caravaggio to the general public and critics,” Prado Museum director Miguel Falomir mentioned.
He added because the nineteenth century it had been within the palms of a household in Madrid, who lately offered it to a person who wished it displayed within the Prado Museum and has not been recognized.
Learn extra:
John Lennon’s misplaced guitar discovered after 50 years to go up for public sale
Acid to destroy Picasso masterpieces if Assange dies in jail, artist claims
The oil-on-canvas work, which measures 111 by 86cm, depicts the Biblical passage of the Ecce Homo, during which Jesus Christ is introduced to the crowds earlier than being crucified.
Though now owned by a personal particular person, the portray won’t be allowed to depart Spain with out authorities permission.
Sustain with all the newest information from the UK and world wide by following Sky Information
Faucet right here
The Prado mentioned the work has been underneath the custodianship of the Colnaghi artwork gallery since April 2021.
The portray was restored by specialist Andrea Cipriani and his crew underneath the supervision of specialists from the Madrid regional authorities.
