A painting found hanging in an elderly French woman's kitchen was found to be a long-lost panel from a polyptych by 13th-century Italian artist Cimabue. The painting, titled "Mocking of Christ," was auctioned for $28.6 million. Photo courtesy of Acteon
"It didn't take long for us to see that it was an artwork by Italian painter Cimabue," Jerome Montcouquil of art specialists Cabinet Turquin told CNN. "He's a father of painting so we know his work very well."
The painting went to auction Sunday in Senlis, north of Paris, and sold for $26.8 million, more than four times the pre-sale estimate.
"There are only 11 of his paintings in the world -- they are rare," Montcouquil said.
