The Lost Painting

1. The Lost Caravaggio: A 400-Year Mystery Unravels

"It looks like the real McCoy," Mahon said.

A painting's journey. The Taking of Christ, a masterpiece by Caravaggio, disappeared for nearly 200 years before resurfacing in Dublin, Ireland. The painting's journey spans:

• 1602: Commissioned by Ciriaco Mattei in Rome
• 1802: Sold to Scottish nobleman William Hamilton Nisbet
• 1921: Auctioned at Dowell's in Edinburgh
• Early 1930s: Gifted to Jesuit residence in Dublin
• 1990: Discovered by restorer Sergio Benedetti

The power of attribution. The painting's value fluctuated dramatically based on its attribution:

• As a Honthorst: Valued at 8 guineas (1921)
• As a Caravaggio: Estimated at 30-35 million pounds (1992)

2. The Power of Persistence in Art Historical Research

"You look like the sort of person who won't be discouraged," he said.

Relentless pursuit. Francesca Cappelletti and Laura Testa, two young art history students, demonstrate the importance of persistence in research:

• Gained access to the previously closed Mattei archive in Recanati
• Traced the painting's provenance from Rome to Scotland
• Uncovered crucial documents and payment records

Networking and collaboration. Their work highlights the importance of building relationships in the art world:

• Connections with established scholars like Denis Mahon
• Collaboration with other researchers and institutions
• Sharing of information across international boundaries

3. Caravaggio's Tumultuous Life and Revolutionary Art

"He was so severely slashed in the face that he was almost unrecognizable."

A life of controversy. Caravaggio's biography reads like a crime novel:

• Frequent brawls and altercations
• Accused of murder in 1606
• Fled Rome under a death sentence
• Died mysteriously at age 39

Artistic innovation. Despite his troubled life, Caravaggio revolutionized painting:

• Dramatic use of chiaroscuro (light and shadow)
• Realistic depictions of religious scenes
• Influence on generations of artists (the Caravaggisti)

4. The Intricacies of Art Restoration and Authentication

"It's like looking at a woman through a window that hasn't been washed in a hundred years, all streaked with dirt and dust," he once remarked. "You can tell it's a woman, but you can't tell much else. Then you wash the window and you see her shape and form, and you see that she is young and lovely."

The restoration process. Bringing a 400-year-old painting back to life involves:

• Careful cleaning to remove dirt and old varnish
• Relining the canvas to provide support
• Retouching areas of lost paint
• Extensive documentation of each step

Scientific authentication. Modern techniques used to verify Caravaggio's authorship:

• X-ray and infrared analysis
• Pigment composition studies
• Canvas and ground layer examination
• Comparison with other known Caravaggio works

5. The Role of Chance and Intuition in Major Discoveries

"I think it might be by Caravaggio."

Sergio Benedetti's intuition. The discovery of The Taking of Christ hinged on:

• Benedetti's extensive knowledge of Caravaggio's style
• His ability to recognize quality beneath layers of dirt and varnish
• The chance assignment to assess paintings at a Jesuit residence

The importance of expertise. Benedetti's experience as a restorer allowed him to:

• Identify subtle details indicative of Caravaggio's hand
• Recognize the significance of the painting's composition
• Pursue authentication despite initial skepticism from others

6. The Politics and Economics of the Art World

"There will be dealers from London and New York with their wallets wide open. It'll be a circus!"

The impact of discovery. Finding a lost Caravaggio affects multiple stakeholders:

• Museums vying for acquisition or loan
• Art dealers and auction houses anticipating potential sales
• Scholars racing to publish new research
• Media outlets competing for the scoop

Institutional challenges. The National Gallery of Ireland faced:

• Limited resources for extensive research and authentication
• Pressure to keep the discovery secret until fully verified
• Negotiations with the Jesuit owners over the painting's future

7. The Impact of Lost Masterpieces on Art History

"One way or the other, the sum of eight guineas was a measure of how time had eclipsed Caravaggio's fame."

Fluctuating reputations. The loss and rediscovery of The Taking of Christ illustrates:

• How artists' reputations can change over centuries
• The impact of changing artistic tastes on valuations
• The potential for lost works to reshape our understanding of an artist's oeuvre

Rewriting art history. The painting's discovery led to:

• Reassessment of Caravaggio's early Roman period
• New insights into his working methods and materials
• Increased interest in other potentially misattributed works

8. The Challenges of Provenance Research

"The past held many secrets, and gave them up grudgingly."

Piecing together history. Tracing the painting's ownership involved:

• Scouring archives across multiple countries
• Deciphering centuries-old handwritten documents
• Connecting fragmentary evidence from various sources

Overcoming obstacles. Researchers faced numerous challenges:

• Lost or destroyed records
• Misattributions and errors in historical documents
• Gaps in provenance spanning decades or centuries
• Language barriers and inconsistent naming conventions

9. The Intersection of Art, Religion, and Society

"Dr. Lea-Wilson had died in 1971, at the age of eighty-three. She'd never had children. She had lived for fifty years in a large old Georgian house on Upper Fitzwilliam Street, a short walk from the Jesuit residence."

Art as spiritual solace. The painting's journey reflects broader societal themes:

• The role of religious institutions in preserving art
• Art as a means of coping with personal tragedy (Dr. Lea-Wilson's story)
• The complex relationship between art, faith, and philanthropy

Changing values. The painting's treatment over time illustrates:

• Shifting attitudes towards religious art
• The evolving role of art in public and private spaces
• The tension between art's spiritual and monetary values

Last updated: November 19, 2024