The Penitent Magdalene
, a painting by Salaï, Leonardo De Vinci's closest collaborator with Francesco Melzi, was sold on Wednesday at 1.7 million euros (costs included), announced the auction house Artcurial in Paris.
Read also: Rare discovery of a painting of Salai, "the little devil" by Leonardo da Vinci
This oil is one of the rare works recognized as being by the hand of this painter imbued as closely as possible with Leonardo's technique, in particular in the treatment of the hands and the face.
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Mona Lisa
?
At the end of very lively auctions by telephone, the table soared to 1,745,000 euros while it had been estimated between 100,000 and 150,000 euros.
The sale took place behind closed doors due to the lockdown.
“
This painting really comes out of the night.
Its owner, who had bought it for a modest sum, entrusted it to us for sale.
It happened to us without attribution.
It is (the expert) Cristina Geddo, who, coming from Milan, revealed to us that it was from Salai,
”Eric Turquin told AFP.
"
We found fingerprints: the painter crushed his thumb on the fresh paint, which is characteristic of the technique of Leonardo and Salai
", added the expert.
We only know of four or five authenticated paintings of Salai, including
Christ the Redeemer
kept in Milan, the others being in private hands.
65 cm by 50 cm, the painting on wood panel needs to be cleaned, the varnish which partially covers it being dirty and oxidized.
Marie-Madeleine is represented there on a black background, her eyes raised in ecstasy, her arms crossed.
The naked, slender body is partially covered by abundant golden-brown hair: a characteristic that can be found in the painting in Milan.
Gian Giacomo Caprotti, known as Salaì (1480-1524), was Leonardo's closest companion with Francesco Melzi.
Student, workshop boy, model, treasurer, agent, lover, he followed his master and mentor to the Château de Cloux in France, where Vinci died in 1519.
The master of the Renaissance would have given him this nickname of "
Salai
", synonymous with "
little devil
", because from his childhood he committed petty thefts, and a host of lies, sure of his impunity because he knew he was protected. by the friendship, amorous ?, which the great artist has always lavished upon her.
For more than 25 years, Salaì has been able to assimilate the technique of the master, positioning himself - in addition to his few personal works - as one of the most influential promoters of Leonardo's models through copies and variations of Leonardo's masterpieces. .