An Extremely Rare and Old Painting Was Just Hanging in an Elderly Woman’s Kitchen – She Didn’t Know It’s Worth Millions!
There are a lot of advantages to cleaning your topsy-turvy kitchen: you’ll see expired canned goods, you’ll be able to save space, and you’ll discover treasures – sometimes, things that are worth millions of dollars.
It may sound far-fetched and some may even say it is unlikely for us to happen, but miracles do exist. Take a look at the case of an elderly woman who just learned that her humble abode just outside Paris is also home to a long-lost painting.
Part of the Series
For the plain eye, it’s just a random, old artwork that is perhaps fitting to be displayed at the hallway, living room, or kitchen. It wasn’t one that really grabs attention once you set foot into a home, after all, its faded colors weren’t all that enticing. But sometimes, it’s the little things that tend to be the most important as the woman never thought her display was that valuable.
The painting in question is called Christ Mocked, which was said to be a part of a series The Flagellation of Christ, created by 13th-century Florentine artist Cenni de Pepo, commonly known as Cimabue, that’s been missing for a long while.
The creator had been regarded as one of the best Renaissance artists and his works had been rare, with experts only identifying 10 of his artworks – this only made the discovery more amazing than anyone has thought.
No Importance
So the 90-year-old woman didn’t notice nor knew that her house in the French countryside Compiegne had stored something worth more than it looks — the masterpiece was displayed between her living room and open-plan kitchen, directly above the hotplate that’s used to cook food.
The family thought it was an icon that had no importance, which explains where it is hanging. Plus, the Christ Mocked could have been found in the trash bin and she would have lost a dusty masterpiece that was plain priceless. Had it not been for the auctioneer, who looked at the house’s contents, the painting would have never been spotted.
Valuation
The stars had aligned for this to happen, it seemed, as the relatively new auctioneer, Philomene Wolf, was just given a week to take a look at the house and the things inside it to give an expert’s view. She explained that had she not make time for that stint, the painting would have been thrown away.
Once she saw the masterpiece, with the elderly woman’s permission, she took it to Turquin Gallery, and it was proven that it was indeed a Cimabue.
Curator Xavier Solomon of Frick Collection, which houses the only Cimabue artwork outside Europe, touted the artist as the grandfather of Western painting. The expert also said that what’s even more remarkable about this improbable case was the artwork’s age, almost 800 years old.
The 20 cm by 24 cm painting is estimated to be fetched for almost $7 million when it will be up for auction on Oct. 27. Christ Mocked is the fourth or eight in the series that depicts the passion and crucifixion of Christ.
More in Business
-
Why American Consumers Are Falling Behind on COVID-Era Debt
When the world was grappling with the health crisis brought on by COVID-19, the U.S. economy faced an equally formidable challenge:...
November 27, 2023 -
Dr Dre and Ex-Wife Nicole Young Finalise $100m Divorce Settlement
After months of legal proceedings, Dr Dre, the legendary rapper, producer, and businessman, officially brought his tumultuous divorce from ex-wife Nicole...
November 22, 2023 -
5 Tell-Tale Signs That It Is Time to Say Goodbye to Your Current Job
Are you feeling like your job is more like a ball and chain than a fulfilling career? The daily grind, the...
November 19, 2023 -
WWE Signs $1.4 Billion Broadcasting Contract for SmackDown
In an explosive turn of events, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has just unleashed some earth-shattering news for its legions of fans....
November 9, 2023 -
Navigating the Mortgage Maze as Interest Rates Take a Historic Leap
The U.S. housing market is nothing short of a dynamic entity. It evolves, reacts, and sometimes, just like the current real-estate...
November 3, 2023 -
Celebrity Couples Where the Woman Has a Higher Net Worth
In a world where gender roles and financial dynamics constantly shift, it’s not unusual to find celebrity couples where the woman...
October 27, 2023 -
Why the Gender Pay Gap Could Be Worsening
Picture this: Two college students, Alex and Charlie. Both are bright, have the same interests, and are ready to embrace the...
October 19, 2023 -
JC Penney’s Remarkable $1 Billion Revival Plan
In a remarkable turnaround, JC Penney unveiled a bold $1 billion revival plan, breathing new life into a brand that faced...
October 12, 2023 -
Shattering the American Dream: Mortgage Rates, Inflation & Cost of Living
You know that feeling when you are dreaming of something you have wanted for so long, only to watch it vanish...
October 6, 2023
You must be logged in to post a comment Login