A couple of years ago, in 2014, a painting was found in the attic of some very lucky homeowners in Toulouse, France.

According to CNN, there was a section of the attic that was sealed away from the rest of the attic. The owners of the house had to break down the part that was sealed off in order to repair a leak coming from the ceiling. In doing so, a painting was found. This particular painting is presumed to be four-hundred years old and painted between the late 1500s to the early 1600s.

Eric Turquin, an expert on early art, has been studying the painting for the past two years since it was discovered back in 2014. The family that found the painting contacted Turquin first and he took in the painting himself for his own examination; he kept the painting all to himself and away from the public for the past two years. He believes it was painted by a very famous Italian artist named Caravaggio. Caravaggio is most known for his paintings that depict Biblical stories or Biblical figures. It was later found that the painting is named “Judith Beheading Holofernes.” The painting is named and represented after Judith from the Book of Judith, a Biblical book. The title of the painting says it all, as the painting shows Judith cutting a man’s throat. It is depicted rather dramatically and with an intense amount of violence. It is still unclear as to why this painting was hidden for so many years.

Turquin, along with a handful of skilled Caravaggio experts, are certain that the painting is an original and authentic work of Caravaggio. However, there are many other experts who are skeptical of the artist and its originality. Some believe that the painting is a copy of an original work or the painting was done by an artist who simply mimicked Caravaggio’s style. According to The Guardian, when the painting was released to the public, it was quickly put on an export ban. This ban prohibits the painting from leaving the country of France for at least thirty months. During this time, experts will be investigating and studying the painting further to confirm its authenticity.    

Junior Efrain Cabral Jr. commented on the painting: “The painting should be preserved and put into a museum because it is really valuable.” He later laughed and said, “I wish I was the person who found the painting! If I were the homeowner, I would try to keep the painting for myself.”

As of now, no one knows what will happen to the painting. Turquin, alongside other qualified art experts, estimated the value of the painting, if it were authentic, to be worth 120 million euros, or approximately $136 million American dollars.  It is uncertain how long it will take for a definite decision to be made, if it even ever happens.