Sandro Botticelli’s “Madonna and Child,” valued at €100 million, was found in a private home in Naples, The Guardian reported on Nov. 30.
“The Virgin and Child”, painted in the 15th century. The painting was considered lost for 50 years. “The last time authorities searched a private residence where a Botticelli painting was kept was more than 50 years ago. Since then, for inexplicable reasons, the painting has been forgotten by the authorities. “When we realized that it had been in a private home for more than 50 years, we decided to examine it.”said Massimiliano Croce, spokesman for the cultural heritage protection service of Naples.
According to art historians, Botticelli considered The Virgin and Child one of his best works and especially appreciated it for personal reasons. It is believed that the image of the Virgin on the canvas is inspired by Simonetta Cattaneo Vespucci, the painter’s lover, who died at the age of 23.
The canvas is in poor condition and needs restoration, experts say. The canvas has suffered oxidation, there is mechanical damage in several places/
The painting was presented to Pope Sixtus IV, after which it ended up in a rural church in the province of Naples. For half a century, Botticelli’s work was in a private collection and passed from generation to generation.
Sandro Botticelli (1445 – 1510) – artist of the early Italian Renaissance, representative of the Florentine school of painting. Author of the paintings “Spring”, “Venus and Mars”, “The Birth of Venus”, which brought him world fame.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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