Thread by @modernhomesla

🎨MYSTERY BUYER🎨

They came 2 auctioneer
Marc Labarbe’s
studio last week 2 stand mere inches
from painting of Jewish heroine Judith
decapitating Assyrian general Holofernes,
dazzling yet bloody masterpiece
attributed 2 Italian painter Caravaggio.
latimes.com/world/europe/l…

🎨MYSTERY BUYER🎨

Found in an attic 5 yrs ago,
Caravaggio painting
“Judith and Holofernes”
valued $100-170-million
was about 2 go 2 auction.

In walks a mystery buyer👈🤦‍♂️

Final price + Buyer
undisclosed.

Painting “will leave French soil.”

latimes.com/world/europe/l…

🎨MYSTERY BUYER🎨

Much of auctioneer’s job
is fielding queries
from people wondering
if some bric-a-brac
might have something more
than sentimental value.

Found behind a mattress.

By time Labarbe arrived,
owners had placed
“Judith and Holofernes”
in a hallway,

🎨MYSTERY BUYER🎨

“Judith and Holofernes”
>68 inches across
+ 56 inches high
+ canvas covered w grime.

Wiping it clean w cotton cloth
revealed just enough of imagery
2 convince Labarbe
it was a remarkable work,
certainly not destined 4 yard sale.
vimeo.com/196325497

🎨MYSTERY BUYER🎨

“Judith and Holofernes”
painting was shipped 2 Paris,
where after 3 mos of study + research,
Paris-based auctioneer,
Eric Turquin
+ his team came 2 conclusion
about unsigned work
that exceeded Labarbe’s grandest hopes:
It was a Caravaggio.

🎨MYSTERY BUYER🎨

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio
was passionate,
sometimes violent,
artist who developed a style
that blended intense emotion + realism.

Tho well-known during his time,
he died 1610 age 38,
+ he was largely forgotten or
dismissed.

🎨MYSTERY BUYER🎨

Toulouse Caravaggio,
was no different.

“Judith and Holofernes”
depicts Biblical scene
in which Judith,
having seduced invading
Assyrian general Holofernes
+ gotten him drunk,
cuts his throat 2 save her people.

Episode, popular image
4 artists 4 centuries.

🎨MYSTERY BUYER🎨

“Judith and Holofernes”

Indeed, there is another
Caravaggio painting of
Judith and Holofernes
he made around 1600
+ hangs in
Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica, Rome.

This 1 emphasizes
1st cut of blade
+ surprised look on general’s face.

🎨MYSTERY BUYER🎨

Attribution:

Exhibit called
“A Question of Attribution”
Finson + Toulouse paintings.

“It was generally conceded,
regardless of attribution,
this is very major work of art,
indeed, + 1 fully worthy
of the controversy it has inspired,”
Keith Christiansen, Met.

🎨MYSTERY BUYER🎨

Toulouse was 1
of most prosperous cities in France,
strong ties devel btw local Catholic leaders + Italy,
incl some connections w Caravaggio.
Later, city became center of art collectors,
+ recs show 3 other Caravaggio paintings
passed thru hands of collectors

🎨MYSTERY BUYER🎨

The Caravaggio’s former owners
traced its heritage back 2 a soldier
who served in Napoleon’s army.
Exactly how it found its way 2 attic
remains mystery.
But thru-out, family has insisted
on remaining anonymous.

🎨MYSTERY BUYER🎨

“I was w American film actor in NY
who wanted 2 know
if I was going 2 sell it
at Sotheby’s or Christie’s,”
Labarbe said. “I said no,
I am going 2 sell in Toulouse.
And he said,
‘You’re kidding me!’
But me, I live in Toulouse,
not London + not NY.

🎨MYSTERY BUYER🎨

Toulouse Caravaggio
'Judith + Holofernes' (1606)
“He made an offer we couldn’t refuse,”
said Eric Turquin,
appraiser + auctioneer in Paris
who advised on deal.
Final price “exceptionally more”
than starting bid of $34M.

wsj.com/articles/buyer…

🎨MYSTERY BUYER🎨

All but 5 of 68 paintings
believed done by Caravaggio
R in museums in Europe + U.S.

Part of this wk’s art-world fuss
was bc no Caravaggio
has come 2 auction in at least 40 yrs.

wsj.com/articles/buyer…

🎨MYSTERY BUYER🎨

Judith Leans-In!🔥🗡️

Name means
"Jewish woman".

She overhears plans 4 surrender
+ decides 2 "deliver the city".

She creeps N2 Assyrian camp,
seduces Holofernes w her beauty,
waits until he is thoroughly drunk
+ cuts off head.
artble.com/artists/donate…

🎨MYSTERY BUYER🎨

So...

Who is the Mystery Buyer of
Caravaggio's Toulouse
Judith + Holofernes?
🤔

Curious if a Jewish buyer involved?

Judith is known in
power-lady circles
as an inspiration
4 her having balls.
latimes.com/world/europe/l…

bonsoir, @threadreaderapp,
pourriez-vous être une belle pâtisserie🧁 robotique🤖
et dérouler cette histoire de Judith et Holopherne de Caravagggio, récemment vendue avant la vente aux enchères à un acheteur inconnu?

unroll :-)