In a remarkable discovery, a painting by the renowned 15th-century artist Sandro Botticelli, missing since the 1980s, has been found in a private home in Gragnano, near Naples, Italy. The masterpiece, depicting the Virgin Mary and infant Christ, was located by the Carabinieri Cultural Heritage Protection Unit of Naples, marking a significant moment in the art world.
Estimated by Italian authorities to be worth at least €100 million ($109 million), the 58 x 80-centimeter (23 x 31-inch) work was commissioned for the Roman Catholic Church in 1470. Botticelli, most celebrated for iconic works like “The Birth of Venus” and “Primavera,” created this lesser-known masterpiece that had adorned a church in the Neapolitan suburb of Santa Maria la Carità since the early 1900s.
The painting faced an unexpected journey when an earthquake damaged the church in 1982. The artwork was entrusted to a local family named Somma by the parish for safekeeping, as per an official decree on file, during the reconstruction period. The family played a vital role in safeguarding the artwork, with local authorities monitoring its condition and providing guidance until the 1990s.
However, the painting mysteriously vanished from official scrutiny and appeared on the culture ministry’s inventory of missing works. This summer, after decades of being lost to the public eye, the painting was traced to the Somma family, who had kept it displayed in their homes over the years.
Commander Massimiliano Croce stated during the presentation of the find that the police collaborated with the local mayor, who was already aware of the painting’s presence in the Somma home, facilitating its retrieval without resorting to legal action.
“This is a work totally unknown to the public which will now be exhibited again thanks to the intervention of the State. We acted in an administrative manner, without resorting to the Prosecutor’s Office or a seizure, thanks also to the mediation of the mayor,” Croce explained.
While the Somma family retains the title of the work, it will be preserved in a museum following extensive restoration. The painting, portraying the Virgin Mary with a chubby baby Jesus on her lap, will need careful restoration due to missing paint and scratches likely incurred during the 1980s earthquake and subsequent house moves.
The discovery of this forgotten masterpiece, believed to be one of Botticelli’s final paintings before his death in 1510, adds a new chapter to art history. The painting is set to be exhibited in one of Naples’ national museums, allowing art enthusiasts and the public to once again appreciate the brilliance of Botticelli’s craftsmanship. However, restoration efforts are expected to take at least a year before the artwork can be showcased to the world. The Somma family, contacted by CNN, declined to comment on the discovery.
In a remarkable discovery, a painting by the renowned 15th-century artist Sandro Botticelli, missing since the 1980s, has been found in a private home in Gragnano, near Naples, Italy. The masterpiece, depicting the Virgin Mary and infant Christ, was located by the Carabinieri Cultural Heritage Protection Unit of Naples, marking a significant moment in the art world.
Estimated by Italian authorities to be worth at least €100 million ($109 million), the 58 x 80-centimeter (23 x 31-inch) work was commissioned for the Roman Catholic Church in 1470. Botticelli, most celebrated for iconic works like “The Birth of Venus” and “Primavera,” created this lesser-known masterpiece that had adorned a church in the Neapolitan suburb of Santa Maria la Carità since the early 1900s.
The painting faced an unexpected journey when an earthquake damaged the church in 1982. The artwork was entrusted to a local family named Somma by the parish for safekeeping, as per an official decree on file, during the reconstruction period. The family played a vital role in safeguarding the artwork, with local authorities monitoring its condition and providing guidance until the 1990s.
However, the painting mysteriously vanished from official scrutiny and appeared on the culture ministry’s inventory of missing works. This summer, after decades of being lost to the public eye, the painting was traced to the Somma family, who had kept it displayed in their homes over the years.
Commander Massimiliano Croce stated during the presentation of the find that the police collaborated with the local mayor, who was already aware of the painting’s presence in the Somma home, facilitating its retrieval without resorting to legal action.
“This is a work totally unknown to the public which will now be exhibited again thanks to the intervention of the State. We acted in an administrative manner, without resorting to the Prosecutor’s Office or a seizure, thanks also to the mediation of the mayor,” Croce explained.
While the Somma family retains the title of the work, it will be preserved in a museum following extensive restoration. The painting, portraying the Virgin Mary with a chubby baby Jesus on her lap, will need careful restoration due to missing paint and scratches likely incurred during the 1980s earthquake and subsequent house moves.
The discovery of this forgotten masterpiece, believed to be one of Botticelli’s final paintings before his death in 1510, adds a new chapter to art history. The painting is set to be exhibited in one of Naples’ national museums, allowing art enthusiasts and the public to once again appreciate the brilliance of Botticelli’s craftsmanship. However, restoration efforts are expected to take at least a year before the artwork can be showcased to the world. The Somma family, contacted by CNN, declined to comment on the discovery.
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