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Omaha Steve

(99,465 posts)
Sun Oct 27, 2019, 08:04 PM Oct 2019

Renaissance masterpiece found in French woman's kitchen sells for $26.6M

Source: USA Today-AP

Thomas Adamson, AP

PARIS — An old painting found in the kitchen of an elderly French woman, who considered it an icon of little importance, has made her a multimillionaire.

The work, a masterpiece attributed to the 13th-century Italian painter Cimabue that was discovered earlier this year, sold for $26.6 million (24 million euros) Sunday.

Dominique Le Coent of Acteon Auction House, who sold the masterpiece to an anonymous buyer near Chantilly, north of Paris, said the sale represented a "world record for a primitive, or a pre-1500 work."

"It's a painting that was unique, splendid and monumental. Cimabue was the father of the Renaissance. But this sale goes beyond all our dreams," Le Coent told The Associated Press.

?

FILE - In this Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019 file photo, art expert Stephane Pinta points to a 13th-century painting by Italian master Cimabue in Paris, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. A masterpiece attributed to the 13th-century Italian painter Cimabue that was discovered in an elderly French woman's kitchen is expected to sell for millions at auction. Stephane Pinta, a painting specialist with the Turquin gallery in Paris, said an auctioneer spotted the painting while inspecting the woman's house in Compiegne in northern France and suggested she bring it to experts for an evaluation. (Photo: Michel Euler, AP)

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/style/2019/10/27/masterpiece-found-chance-french-womans-kitchen-sells-26-6-m/2480630001/

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Renaissance masterpiece found in French woman's kitchen sells for $26.6M (Original Post) Omaha Steve Oct 2019 OP
What a great story. lapucelle Oct 2019 #1
Remarkable. SammyWinstonJack Oct 2019 #8
Love those kinds of stories!! Thekaspervote Oct 2019 #2
Way beyond Antiques Roadshow. BigmanPigman Oct 2019 #3
In the kitchen no less lordsummerisle Oct 2019 #4
Incredible story. Talitha Oct 2019 #5
Hmmm looking around my kitchen.... Canoe52 Oct 2019 #6
Nothing in my kitchen either. LisaL Oct 2019 #7
Hold on ... I have a Round Tuit... tavernier Oct 2019 #9
A round Tuit is extremely valuable. CTyankee Oct 2019 #18
I have a cutting board with a stain lordsummerisle Oct 2019 #10
I have a slice of bread with an image of Jesus ... aggiesal Oct 2019 #14
Wonderful! I was at an event locally where someone brought in a vase they'd bought at a yard sale Liberty Belle Oct 2019 #11
brb gotta check my kitchen EveHammond13 Oct 2019 #12
Reminds me of Giotto's work from that era. Giotto may have been a discovery of his. brush Oct 2019 #13
I wrote an essay published here on Cimabue's crucifix and it's awful fate when Florence was CTyankee Oct 2019 #17
Thank you for the link. I missed it when it ran. Art you an art historian? brush Oct 2019 #19
I guess I am an art historian, but I embarked on this career late in life... CTyankee Oct 2019 #20
Thank YOU! Omaha Steve Oct 2019 #21
Yeah Tiny Pic was a disaster. My daughter and I had to piece together the art work CTyankee Oct 2019 #22
Not really a good signal Aussie105 Oct 2019 #15
And now, it will likely never be seen again by the general public. n/t OnlinePoker Oct 2019 #16

lapucelle

(18,180 posts)
1. What a great story.
Sun Oct 27, 2019, 08:14 PM
Oct 2019

The real estate agent is to be commended. When he thought the painting might be worth something, he was honest and told the woman.

tavernier

(12,363 posts)
9. Hold on ... I have a Round Tuit...
Sun Oct 27, 2019, 09:46 PM
Oct 2019

And a bathroom masterpiece sign stating that if I tinkle I should not sprinkle.

I’m Rich!!!

Liberty Belle

(9,531 posts)
11. Wonderful! I was at an event locally where someone brought in a vase they'd bought at a yard sale
Sun Oct 27, 2019, 09:50 PM
Oct 2019

for an antiques expert to assess.

Turns out it was a vase from the Chinese Ming Dynasty, worth millions.

brush

(53,721 posts)
19. Thank you for the link. I missed it when it ran. Art you an art historian?
Mon Oct 28, 2019, 02:12 AM
Oct 2019

And btw, any way to see the end result of the restoration solution?

CTyankee

(63,880 posts)
20. I guess I am an art historian, but I embarked on this career late in life...
Mon Oct 28, 2019, 07:33 AM
Oct 2019

The solution to the issue of "restoration" is described in my essay. There was a lot of controversy in the art world about it at the time. The Florence flood was a huge art event because so much of western art heritage had been threatened. The work is in the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence where you can see it today.

I was lucky enough, through an inheritance, to use the money and research/write about art I saw as I traveled through italy, France, UK, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. It was my passion and I wrote 46 art essays which I published here at DU. My daughter and I are self publishing this collection this fall. I loved doing the research, traveling, meeting "real" art historians and talking with them. It was a great, life changing experience. And while educationally I have an advanced degree, it is alas in Liberal Studies not Art History so I am not a "real" art historian.

CTyankee

(63,880 posts)
22. Yeah Tiny Pic was a disaster. My daughter and I had to piece together the art work
Mon Oct 28, 2019, 11:18 AM
Oct 2019

painstakingly to restore their places in lots of the essays. She had finished working on lots of them, thankfully. And I had paper copies I had printed out so I could use them as my guide.

Aussie105

(5,308 posts)
15. Not really a good signal
Sun Oct 27, 2019, 10:46 PM
Oct 2019

to all the hoarders are out there.

But maybe they can have a clean up, throw out 99% of their junk, and keep the odd old painting?

(Hope my wife reads this. Of course, my hoard of computer and car parts are NOT to be touched!)

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