Sotheby's sued over 'Caravaggio' painting

Source: Agencies | October 29, 2014, Wednesday |

Online Edition

SOTHEBY'S is being sued over claims a painting it sold for £42,000 was actually a £10million Caravaggio, Daily Mail reported.

The bitter legal battle was sparked by Lancelot Thwaytes, whose family bought the work for a reputed £140 in 1962 and kept it for almost half a century until its sale in 2006, the report said.

Renowned collector Sir Denis Mahon bought it at auction, where it was advertised as an imitator's version of Caravaggio's masterpiece The Cardsharps, Daily Mail reported.

After his purchase, Sir Denis declared it an early version by the artist himself - worth more than 200 times what he paid, according to papers filed at the High Court, according to Daily Mail.

Since the claim by Sir Denis, who died aged 100 three years ago, Mr Thwaytes has been building a hugely expensive legal case against the auction giant - which is resolutely standing by its experts.

Some of the world's most eminent Caravaggio scholars will give evidence at a High Court trial, the report said.

As the trial opened, judge Mrs Justice Rose was taken through a 'spot the difference' exercise between the two pieces.

World

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Sotheby's sued over 'Caravaggio' painting

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