This Painting Was Thought to Be a Botticelli Copy. Now, Researchers Say It Was Made in His Studio

A recent discovery has shaken up the art world, challenging long-held beliefs about a painting housed in a small church in Champigny-en-Beauce, France. Thought to be a 19th-century copy of a Sandro Botticelli masterpiece, experts have now determined that the painting is actually an original work from Botticelli’s studio.

The painting in question features the Virgin Mary, a young St. John the Baptist, and the infant Christ. Believed to have been in the possession of the St. Félix church since the 1800s, the artwork bears a striking resemblance to another Botticelli painting from around 1490. Initially assumed to be a later copy, new analysis using advanced imaging techniques has revealed that the painting was indeed created in Botticelli’s studio by various artists, with the possibility of Botticelli himself working on the Virgin Mary’s face.

Further research conducted at the National Center for Research and Restoration in French Museums confirmed that the painting was made using the same materials and techniques as Botticelli’s original works. Doubts about the painting’s origins first surfaced in 2010 when art historian Matteo Gianeselli noticed its close resemblance to Botticelli’s authentic piece. Subsequent research and a joint exhibition in 2021 further supported the painting’s authenticity.

To showcase this newfound discovery, a new exhibition titled “Botticelli: Two Madonnas at Chambord” will be held at the Château de Chambord in France’s Loire Valley. The St. Félix church has loaned the painting for two years to be displayed alongside the original artwork on loan from the Uffizi Galleries in Florence. This exhibition aims to highlight the influence of Italian artists like Botticelli on the Renaissance art scene in the Loire Valley.

“We are honored to receive these two pieces,” expresses Pierre Dubreuil, general director of the Domaine national de Chambord. The exhibition serves as a testament to the region’s rich artistic history and the enduring legacy of renowned artists like Sandro Botticelli.

“Botticelli: Two Madonnas at Chambord” is set to open at the Château de Chambord on October 20, 2024, and will run until January 19, 2025. Art enthusiasts and history buffs alike will have the opportunity to witness this rare display of authentic Renaissance artwork in the picturesque setting of the Loire Valley.