‘Mary Magdalene’: Queues for newly discovered Raphael painting

The painting is believed to date from a meeting between the painter and Leonardo da Vinci in 1505

Visitors lined up at a basilica in southern France on Sunday to get a close-up look at a recently discovered painting by Italian Renaissance painter Raphael.

The small portrait of Mary Magdalene is on display for a month in the Sainte-Marie-Madeleine basilica, which houses the remains of the disciple of Jesus (a fact that makes it the third most important tomb of Christianity).

Fifty visitors waited in line on Sunday afternoon, according to Agence France-Presse, to admire this forgotten painting by Raphael, who created the Three Graces and The School of Athens, among others.

The painting is believed to date from a meeting between the painter and Leonardo da Vinci in 1505.

Visitors were required to pay three euros to see the work, which will be raised to support the restoration of the basilica.

It all started when a French collector bought the portrait from the website of a London gallery for $37,000. He then invited a UNESCO expert to Italy, who certified the work’s authenticity in September. After countless analyses, they managed to attribute the painting to Raphael (1483-1520).

With information from AFP