A 13th-century painting discovered hanging in an elderly woman’s kitchen a few years ago has been acquired by the Louvre after a four-year endeavour to keep the rare work of art in France.
The painting, Christ Mocked, also known as The Derison of Christ, was painted by the Florentine painter Cimabue around 1280, according to The Guardian. It depicts Jesus being tormented by the crowd before his crucifixion. Art historians believe it to be part of a diptych, one of eight panels illustrating the passion and crucifixion of Jesus Christ that were hinged together at one time for display.
It is a rare work of art and only two other examples are known in the world, the Louvre said.
The pre-Renaissance painting is one of the oldest works in the world-renowned museum’s collection. It will be highlighted in a planned exhibition together with another of Cimabue’s works Maestà scheduled for 2025.
Only about a dozen works of Cimabuem who did not sign his paintings, survived to the present day, according to The Guardian.
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The painting was found only a few years
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