The reputation of a French expert on the biblical masterpiece of Caravaggio "lost"

PARIS (AFP) – Eric Turquin, art expert, is not only convinced that a canvas found in the attic of an old house in southwestern France is a Caravaggio, he is considers it a revolutionary masterpiece.

France's leading authority on paintings by old masters has built its reputation on the claim that the work – left to be forgotten under an old mattress for 100 years – is the enthusiastic Italian artist "Judith and Holofernes" lost.

The painting representing a macabre biblical scene of the beautiful Jewish widow Judith beheading a sleeping Assyrian general will be exposed Friday in Paris before being put under the hammer June 27 in Toulouse, the city where it was discovered five years ago.

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Turquin said it should sell for between 100 and 150 million euros (up to 170 million dollars).

"Not only is it a Caravaggio, but of all the Caravagos known today, it's one of the best images," he insisted.

"The painting is in extraordinary condition, much better than the caravagos I saw in Naples," he told AFP.

Although everyone agrees on the quality of work, a minority of experts – especially in Italy – have doubts.

They believe it is a copy of the Flemish artist Louis Finson, who worked alongside Caravaggio while he was painting.

But Turquin is categorical: it is the original of 1606, whose existence was first noted in letters between Italian dukes and art dealers four centuries ago.

& # 39; Turning & # 39;

He is more convinced than ever since cleaning the canvas in January, a process that took three weeks. In addition to the X-rays, the cleaning "showed that the painting had changed a lot as it had been painted, with a lot of retouching. This proves that it's an original, "Turquin said.

"The copyists do not make such changes, they copy," he added.

A less virtuosic version of Finson's scene is on display at Palazzo Zevallos in Naples.

Standing in front of what was called the "Caravaggio de Toulouse" in a vault over his Parisian office, Turquin showed the revealing trace of how the artist had changed from one to another. notice as to how Judith should look.

"After five years of thinking, no one has presented counter-argument," said the expert, accusing Italian skeptics of "pronouncing against the painting without seeing it."

"They say it's impossible because Caravaggio painted [no more than] 65 canvases … The history of art is settled for them. "

Turquin said the painting marked a turning point in Caravaggio's development as an artist.

The fiercely original painter had created his first painting on the theme, the much more formal "Judith Beheading Holofernes" in 1598, which hangs on the Barberini Palace in Rome.

Sentenced to death

But in 1606, Caravaggio's life had changed dramatically and he was on the run for murder. He escaped to Naples after being sentenced to death for stabbing a man during a fight in the streets of Rome.

"He was painting faster, more spontaneously and more strikingly," said Turquin, adding that the painting reflected his now darker vision of life.

"At one place, it made a dash of nearly a meter long. He made Judith's sleeve and lace on it all at once. He was a virtuoso with the brush.

"He changed his style by painting 'risparmio' [sparingly], using the black background and painting accentuating the features. This is particularly visible on the sheet. "

Other experts have speculated that Finson could have added his own touch to the canvas after Caravaggio's sudden departure for Malta in 1607, where he hoped to be safer against his enemies.

Turquin said he kept "Caravaggio de Toulouse" in his bedroom for 16 months "while art historians, insurers and restaurateurs came to see him.

"We wanted to wait to be certain before presenting ourselves" and to announce the discovery to the world in April 2016 after Caravaggio 's Italian expert, Nicola Spinosa, also gave him his imprimatur.

The painting will be sold in Toulouse by Marc Labarbe, the provincial auctioneer who discovered it following a local family who asked him to value "old objects in the attic" of a house they cleared .

The family – who has not been named – thinks that it could have been brought to France by one of their ancestors, an officer of Napoleon's army.

Corsica then invaded the kingdom of Naples in 1806 and placed his brother Joseph on the throne.