Jury still out on van Dyck ‘copy’

A SEVENTEENTH century painting, possibly a van Dyck, has been displayed in Gandia since March. It portrays the Lamentation of the Virgin, St Mary Magdalene and St John over the body of Christ.

It can be seen at the Ducal Palace, once the home of the Borgias, in Gandia (Valencia) loaned by Javea-based Mnajdra Discerning Fine Art SL, which collects, values and markets Old Masters.

The painting is almost the same size and very similar to another in El Prado in Madrid that is attributed to van Dyck.  When the Mnajdra picture was acquired  in 2009, it was considered a copy, although neither version had been technically examined at that time.

Both have now been analysed and the Prado version was pronounced to have no greater claim to be a van Dyck than the Mnajdra work .

These and other issues will be explored on June 20 by Florentine expert Dr Anna Pelagotti.  

Dr Susan Grundy, managing director of Mnajdra Discerning Fine Art, will present joint findings of extensive research carried out with Dr Roberta Lapucci, also from Florence.