AI Uncovers Face in Raphael Painting Not Actually Painted by Raphael
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the ability to detect details in images that may go unnoticed by the human eye. Recently, an AI neural network identified something peculiar about a face in a Raphael painting – it was not created by Raphael himself.
The face in question belongs to St Joseph, located in the top left corner of the painting known as the Madonna della Rosa (or Madonna of the Rose).
Scholars have long debated the authenticity of the painting as a Raphael original. While determining the provenance of an artwork involves various evidence, a new analysis method based on AI algorithms has supported the belief that some parts of the painting were not created by Raphael.
Researchers from the UK and US developed a custom analysis algorithm based on known works attributed to Raphael. By training the AI on authenticated Raphael paintings, the computer was able to recognize his unique style, including brushstrokes, color palette, shading, and other aspects of his work.
The AI algorithm, utilizing deep feature analysis, was able to distinguish between authentic Raphael paintings and the disputed painting. While the faces of the Madonna, the Child, and St John were confirmed to be Raphael’s work, St Joseph’s face raised suspicions.
Although Giulio Romano, one of Raphael’s pupils, is a possible candidate for the disputed face, the exact artist remains uncertain. This discovery showcases how modern technology, specifically AI, can reveal hidden secrets within classic paintings.
The Madonna della Rosa was painted between 1518 and 1520, with suspicions of Raphael’s authorship arising in the mid-1800s. The research team behind this study emphasizes that AI will complement art experts in the future rather than replace them in authenticating artworks.
The findings of this research were published in Heritage Science.
An earlier version of this article was published in December 2023.
