A 500-year-old mystery at the Vatican has been solved.
Raphael, the Renaissance painter, began work on another room before his death, which remained unfinished and undiscovered until now.
Discovery Details
The lost paintings were found in the Hall of Constantine, a room used for lavish banquets by Renaissance popes.
The discovery includes two paintings depicting female figures: Justice and Friendship.
Raphael intended to use oil paint for the entire wall, which was a departure from traditional fresco techniques.
After Raphael's death, the figures were obscured by frescoes painted by others.
Expert Insights
Fabio Piacentini, a chief restorer at the Vatican, expressed the thrill of rediscovering these works, stating it felt like the presence of the maestro was palpable.
A 15th-century book by historian Giorgio Vasari hinted at the existence of these oil-painted figures.
Identification Process
Experts recognized the figures' distinct brushwork, color shades, and lack of preparatory drawings—hallmarks of Raphael's technique.
Infrared imaging confirmed the existence of the oil paintings beneath later frescoes.
Significance
Barbara Iatta, head of the Vatican Museums, described the discovery as one of the most important projects in recent decades, comparable to the restoration of the Sistine Chapel.
The restoration of the entire room is expected to be completed by 2022.
Ongoing research suggests that there may be more undiscovered works within the Vatican.
Conclusion
The restoration project emphasizes the importance of continual research in art history, highlighting the potential for future discoveries.