Lost Botticelli Painting Recovered in Italy
A long-lost painting by Renaissance master Sandro Botticelli, valued at €100 million, has been recovered near Naples. The 1470 portrait of the Virgin Mary and Christ had been missing since the 1990s and is now a focus of major scholarly and curatorial attention.
The painting's journey into obscurity began after an earthquake damaged the church of Santa Maria la Carità where it was housed. The artwork was then entrusted to a local family for safekeeping, where it remained for generations. For reasons that remain unclear, the Italian state lost track of the masterpiece for over 50 years. The rediscovery was initiated by the mayor of Gragnano, Nello D'Auria, who was contacted by the family currently in possession of the work. This led to the involvement of the Carabinieri's art protection unit. Authorities are now investigating the legal ownership to determine if the family is the rightful owner or if the painting belongs to the state. Originally a gift from Botticelli to Pope Sixtus IV, the painting was later given to a small rural church in Naples to curry favor with the powerful Medici family, who had acquired property in the area to develop vineyards. This was a strategic move by the Pope, who was seeking financial support to complete the Sistine Chapel. The artwork is currently in "critical" condition, suffering from discoloration, abrasions, and the oxidation of old varnishes. An extensive restoration process, expected to take about a year, will be carried out by experts from the Italian culture ministry's Central Institute for Restoration. Regardless of the outcome of the ownership investigation, the painting is expected to be permanently displayed in a museum in Naples for security and public access. The market for Botticelli's work remains strong; a portrait titled "Young Man Holding a Roundel" sold for $92.2 million at a Sotheby's auction in 2021, setting a record for the artist.
