LOS ANGELES—Absence may indeed make the heart grow fonder—especially 370 years’ worth. The recently discovered Pietro de Cortona painting "St. Martina" (left), circa 1635, has created quite a stir among those at The Ahmanson Foundation and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, who acquired it at the end of July.

The Roman Baroque painting, last purchased in 1840 and never before viewed publicly, was discovered within the last year. Claudia Einecke, LACMA associate curator of European painting and sculpture, says the museum believes "St. Martina" is one of two famous Cortona paintings acquired by either the Chigi or the Barberini family in Rome while Cortona was still living. "Because of the quality and the size, it really is a major painting, and it indicates that it was really made for a very important patron," Einecke says.

The Ahmanson Foundation, who has donated works to LACMA for about 30 years, provided the funding for the acquisition.

While it is against policy for either to release the price at which they acquired the painting, Einecke did say the painting was purchased for "several million" dollars.