The auctioneer Marc Labarbe is impatient: “If the painting“ Judith beheading Holofernes ”by the Italian painter Caravaggio (1571-1610) is exhibited in New York, I do not hesitate. I take a ticket and go for it ”. What becomes of this famous canvas, found in 2014 with a collector in Toulouse by this Toulouse auctioneer and recognized by the Italian painter by several recognized experts including Keith Christiansen (Moma), Nicola Spinosa and the Parisian expert Eric Turquin?

First promised at auction in Toulouse in 2019, it was sold by mutual agreement, by Marc Labarbe and Parisian expert Eric Turquin, to an American collector, J. Tomilson Hill. This fund manager, president of Blackstone Alternative Asset Management (BAAM) is a collector of modern and contemporary art. He also sits on the board of directors of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (MET) and also a museum, the Hill Art Foundation in Chelsea (New York). This billionaire would have acquired this painting for 110 million dollars, or about 96 million euros: a sum never reached for a work of art sold in Europe.

In catering at the MET

According to our latest information, the canvas is currently being restored in New York at the MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art): “When the Eat decided to leave French territory, it went into restoration in this American museum, reveals Marc Labarbe. And then the covid went through there, blocking the situation. It is very likely that after restoration it will be exhibited in New York or elsewhere. But rather I rejoiced for New York. However, the date remains unknown ”. This case could have a follow-up at the end of October. To be continued…