Artemisia Gentileschi's Altered Masterpiece to be Auctioned at Dorotheum
Vienna's Dorotheum auction house is set to auction a unique version of Artemisia Gentileschi's 'St. Mary Magdalen' painting, which notably has its face cut out. This partial oil painting, dating back to around 1620, is expected to fetch between $120,000 and $170,000. The painting surfaced from a private German collection in 2011, and its face was likely removed during the chaos of postwar Berlin. Art historian Roberto Contini attributed the work to Gentileschi, and it was included in a 2011 exhibition in Milan. The painting's composition differs from other versions, with changes in the positioning of elements like the mirror and jar of ointment. 
