After disappearing in mysterious circumstances, a beloved artwork by the Renaissance master Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510) has been discovered at a private residence outside Naples. Valued at around €100 million (£85.7 million), the “forgotten” painting is one of the last known works by the artist.  

Botticelli painted the masterpiece in 1470 as a homage to his muse and rumoured lover, Simonetta Cattaneo Vespucci, who died aged 23. In the painting, Vespucci is represented as the Virgin Mary cradling the Christ Child on her lap. This tender piece was originally commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV (1414-1484) in the hopes of garnering financial support from the Medici family for the completion of the Sistine Chapel.  

In 1982, the painting was entrusted to a local family in Gragnano for safeguarding when the church it had been displayed in was damaged by an earthquake. The work was passed down among family members, until it suddenly vanished from government records in the 1990s. For reasons that remain unclear, the state never again conducted its annual check on the apparently “lost” painting. 

“Since then, inexplicably, the painting had been forgotten by the authorities,” explained Massimiliano Croce, of the Carabinieri command for the protection of cultural heritage of Naples.  

The Carabinieri recently decided to reopen the case and track down the family in Gragnano who, much to their surprise, were still in possession of the painting. The family are not facing any criminal investigations, but authorities are currently researching the provenance of the painting.  

“We are evaluating whether they acquired it properly,” said Croce. “If we were to verify that the family who owned it was not entitled to keep it then it will pass into the hands of the state. Otherwise, it could remain the property of the family but exhibited in a museum to ensure greater security.” Italian law dictates that culturally important artworks like this one can only be privately owned if adequate security and preservation of the piece is assured. 

Speaking about the recovery, art historian Peppe Di Massa recalled that “many of us fought for this painting to be returned to the community when its traces were lost. They said it had ended up in a safety deposit box. Now we hope it can find its rightful place in a museum.” 

Extensive conservation is required to restore the painting back to its former glory. The canvas was found in poor condition, scarred by abrasions and chromatic deterioration due to the oxidation of its varnish. Once it has been restored, the extraordinary painting will be exhibited in one of the national museums in Naples.