When, a little before the summer, a lady calls Philomène Wolf for her opinion, the auctioneer is far from suspecting that she will fall on such a treasure. This woman, who lives in Compiegne, in the Oise, just wants to empty his house, which is an icon on a gold background, hanging between the kitchen and the living room. "The family thought it was a religious icon with little value," recalls Philomène Wolf.
"An incredible, miraculous experience"
But once there, the specialist does not return. In fact of unimportant icon, she is faced with a primitive Italian painting of the 13th century. "It's an incredible, miraculous experience," she tells the microphone of Europe 1. Eric Turquin, expert in ancient paintings, is formal: it is about the Mocked Christ of Cimabue, first great artist of the Renaissance .
"Where it is recognized, it is in this interest for the man.These faces all have different expressions and this is his genius.He manages to make the agitation of this crowd, and in the middle of the crowd , the majestic figure of Christ. " And the professional enthuses: "It's sensational, it's one of the most beautiful paintings by this artist, one of the most moving paintings for anyone interested in 13th century religious painting . "
"A work that could have been lost in nature"
The Mocked Christ is auctioned this Sunday at Actéon in Senlis. But he was exposed to Compiegne a few days earlier so that the inhabitants could admire it. "I am surprised by its state of preservation", breathes a curious, who expected to find the table more blackened. "We are moved because it is a work that could have been lost in nature," slips another amateur.
Sunday, the masterpiece of Cimabue should fly for more than 10 million euros.