Painting Likely by Renaissance Great Ignored for Generations

High up in a corner of a 300-year-old house in Scotland, unnoticed, hung a painting by a Renaissance master worth more than $25 million. It's getting a lot more attention now. The Guardian reports the painting by Raphael, famous Italian artist and ninja turtle namesake, was discovered by art historian Dr. Bendor Grosvenor at Scotland's Haddo House. He was there to look at other works, but the painting of the Madonna drew his eye despite being "obscured by discolored varnish." "I thought, crikey, it looks like a Raphael," Grosvenor says. The 500-year-old painting was purchased in the early 19th century as a legit Raphael, but it was later credited to Innocenzo da Imola, according to the BBC.

Restoration and further examination of the painting showed it almost certainly is the work of Raphael. Grosvenor tells the Guardian it's "simply too good to be by Innocenzo." The painting still needs to be verified by Raphael scholars, Smithsonian reports. But if it's confirmed, it would be Scotland's only publicly owned work by the great artist. "Finding a possible Raphael is about as exciting as it gets," Grosvenor tells the BBC. The painting has since been moved to a more prominent dining room location in Haddo House, which is owned by the National Trust for Scotland and open for tours. “There are not many places where you can experience the work of one of the Renaissance’s giants in a dining room," Smithsonian quotes a press release from the National Trust. (A rare work by Renaissance master was found in Kansas City.)