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Duplicate Original
Apollo the Luteplayer had been sold at
Sotheby's in New York in 2001, where the catalogue
listed it as the possible work of 17th Century artist
Carlo Magnone.
It was thought to be a copy of a Caravaggio painting
that hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New
York, and a similar version of the same painting in
Russia's Hermitage Museum.
Caravaggio Discovery, Apollo the Luteplayer
But a 17th Century description of a
Caravaggio painting by biographer Giovanni Baglione
corresponds exactly with Apollo the Luteplayer.
After it was cleaned and x-rays were taken, changes and
corrections became visible and they suggest it is an
original rather than a copy. Various adjustments, such
as to the profile of the boy's hands, had been made and
there were incisions that are characteristic of
Caravaggio.
This would not have been done if it was a copy.
It is now believed that the painting is an original,
with the Hermitage piece being a second original.
Sir Denis Mahon who is an expert on 16th and 17th
century Italian art originally said the painting was not
by Caravaggio, but changed his mind after it was
cleaned.
It is not rare or even exceptional for artists to paint
several versions of the same painting. Consider the case
of Gilbert Stuart. After he painted George Washington's
portrait in April 1796 he went on to duplicate his
painting 72 times. All 72 are originals. He painted them
all in his own hand.
If you own a painting which appears to be a fine copy,
check if it is an original. Duplicate originals are very
common even by the most famous artists. We have two
originals of Leonardo's Madonna of the Rocks and
duplicate originals by most everyone. John Singleton
Copley painted three times his famous "Watson and the
Shark".
Multiple originals are very common and many paintings
currently labeled as copies are duplicate originals
waiting to be recognized for what they are.
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