The Louvre just spent €7.8m to buy a 14th Century work by Jean Malouel entitled “Christ of Pity carried by St John”, according to Le Figaro. Jean Malouel, born in Nijmegen (now the Netherlands) before 1370 and died in Dijon in 1415, was the official painter of the Duke of Burgundy Philippe the Bold in 1400.

“Christ pity supported by St. John” was acquired after twelve years of discussions with a dealer in the central region, said Vincent Pomarède, director of paintings at the Louvre . For him, this is “the major acquisition of the last fifty years for the museum,” in painting. “It’s really the original nucleus of French painting,” he said. 

The work had been bought from a local priest in 1985 when it was covered with dirt. The seller of the work is paying the town of Vic-le-Comte where the work was found€2.3m to give up its claims to the work.

The Louvre is funding the acquisition through a donor who will get a tax benefit.

Le Louvre s’offre un chef d’œuvre (Figaro)