A long-lost Renaissance masterpiece, discovered in a humble garage, has stunned the art world by selling for a staggering £685,000 at auction.
From Garage to Global Bidding War
The painting, which depicts the classic religious scene of the Madonna and Child, was consigned to JS Fine Arts auction house in Banbury, Oxfordshire. The seller, a local from Oxfordshire, had owned the work for years, completely unaware of its significant origins and immense potential value.
The online auction ignited a fierce 15-minute bidding war, captivating interest from collectors across the globe. The demand was so intense that the auction house's phone lines were constantly ringing. The final hammer price of £685,000 was accepted from a private buyer, shattering the auction house's previous record sale of £285,000.
The Master Behind the Masterpiece
Art experts believe the work to be by the hand of the celebrated 15th-century painter Pietro Vannucci, who was widely known as 'Il Perugino'. Vannucci was a towering figure of the Italian Renaissance, considered an equal to the great Leonardo da Vinci in his day.
His prestigious career included a commission to paint the walls of the Vatican's Sistine Chapel, decades before Michelangelo created his famous ceiling. Despite his fame, Vannucci's legacy was later overshadowed by that of his brilliant student, Raphael. The artist died in 1523.
Auctioneer's Dream Realised
Joe Smith, the principal auctioneer, described the sale as a career highlight. He said, 'It was one of those moments every auctioneer dreams of. We knew it was special, but the response was beyond anything we expected.'
This remarkable discovery proves that significant artworks can still be found in the most unexpected places, turning an ordinary garage into the source of an extraordinary art historical find.
