The Louvre paid 24 million euros for the almost thrown out “Mockery of Christ”

The museum saved money for Giovanni Cimabue’s work for several years

The Louvre took a long time to gather its strength and finally bought for 24 million euros the work “Mockery of Christ” by Giovanni Cimabue, which a few years ago the French woman almost threw in the trash.

This small work (25×20 cm) hung for many years in the house of a French woman who lived in the city of Compiegne, 75 km from Paris. In her old age, the woman decided to move and sell the house.

While sorting out her things, she was about to throw the painting board into the trash. But then I decided to call an appraiser. It turned out that the author of the story about Christ, who is led to the crucifixion, showered with ridicule, is none other than Giovanni Cimabue. The same legendary Florentine master who anticipated the Renaissance and whom Dante mentions in The Divine Comedy.

The work was dated to the end of the 13th century. Art historians believe it is part of a larger series of eight scenes that Cimabue painted in 1280. Experts came to the conclusion: the plot is part of a cycle, other parts of which are in the National Gallery in London and the Frick Collection in New York.

“Mockery of Christ” was put up for auction with an estimate of 4-6 million euros. As a result, it went for 24 million to a private collector. Then the French Ministry of Culture declared the work a national treasure and prohibited its export. It was decided to buy it for the Louvre.

For several years the museum collected money to buy Cimabue, and now it has happened. In 2025, an image depicting a mockery of Christ being led to crucifixion on a poplar board will be shown at an exhibition.