PARIS.- The French Ministry of Culture and the Louvre have acquired the painting “Saint Peter’s Denial,” by French painter Antoine or Louis Le Nain, attributed to the 17th century Lorraine School. The painting is the museum’s latest acquisition and was purchased by a private patronage for 11,500,000 euros.(16,560,000 dollars). The painting “was found in an attic in Luneville” and sold at auction in Nancy on 19 March 2000. Estimated at 200,000 francs, it was acquired by the Parisian dealer Charles Bailly for 9.2 million francs. The painting was denied an export permit and was acquired by insurance company AXA.