The controversy surrounding Caravaggio’s "Shulers" continues

LONDON. The controversy surrounding Caravaggio’s painting, which belonged to the late collector and scientist Denis Mahon and was due to be transferred to the Museum of the Order of St. John in London in April, continues. Although the rest of the 58 paintings of Italian Baroque bequeathed by Mahon to UK state museums have already been transferred to the appropriate organizations, the future of The Cardsharps (Shulers) remains uncertain.

The painting was put up for auction at Sotheby’s in London in 2006, as the work of one of Caravaggio’s students, so the selling price was only 42,000 thousand pounds. Later it turned out that the painting belongs to the brush of the greatest Italian. The seller, Lancelot William Thwaytes, is currently suing Sotheby ’s for incorrectly evaluating the canvas. The amount of the claim was not disclosed.

Until recently, the picture was exhibited in Italy. In particular, she was in Pinacoteca di Cento in May last year, when a devastating earthquake occurred and the gallery was significantly damaged. For export and insurance purposes, the canvas was valued at £ 10 million. The temporary export license expired in July 2012, but due to problems with obtaining the necessary documents for the export of the painting, she returned to the UK only in October 2012.

The "cheaters" were jointly owned by Mahon and his close friend, Orietta Benocci Adam. Now she is the sole owner, after the death of Mahon in 2011 at the age of 100 years. According to the will of Mahon, the picture should be put on public display.

The issue of authorship of the canvas is still not closed. However, several key Italian scholars, including Antonio Paolucci, director of the Vatican Museums, and Mina Gregory, a Florentine specialist, are confident in its authenticity. Other scholars continue to be of the opinion that this is a copy of the authentic version (circa 1595), which is located at the Kimbell Museum of Art in Fort Worth

Anna Sidorova © Gallerix.ru