Masterpieces rediscovered: when hidden art comes to light

In the art world, every now and then extraordinary stories emerge of forgotten works, hidden for centuries under layers of paint, in dusty attics or even in private collections without anyone knowing their real value. Recently, some of these rediscoveries have caught the attention of historians and enthusiasts, proving once again that the past is always ready to surprise us.

The “Lost Caravaggio” in Madrid

One of the most striking cases was that of Ecce Homo, a painting attributed to Caravaggio, rediscovered in Spain in 2021. The work, initially estimated as a simple copy of the Caravaggio school, was intended for auction with a base of a few thousand euros. A few days before the sale, experts noticed the extraordinary use of light and the dramatic nature of the composition, distinctive elements of the Lombard master. The timely intervention of the Spanish Ministry of Culture prevented the painting from leaving the country and launched a thorough investigation to establish its authenticity.

he work depicts Christ crowned with thorns, presented to the crowd by Pontius Pilate, with an extraordinary realism and skilful use of chiaroscuro, typical of Caravaggio's style. Scientific and stylistic analyses have led experts to conclude that the painting may indeed be an original by Caravaggio, painted around 1605-1609, during his stay in Naples or Madrid. Ecce Homo was subsequently transferred to the Prado Museum for further study and may soon be officially recognised as a Caravaggio masterpiece, with an estimated value of more than €50 million.

The Forgotten Van Gogh

Another extraordinary find involved a painting by Vincent van Gogh, entitled Street Scene in Montmartre, rediscovered after more than 100 years of oblivion. The work had belonged to a French private collection for over a century and had never been exhibited publicly; hidden for generations, it was only known through documentary sources, without anyone ever having had the opportunity to study it closely.

Painted in 1887, during Van Gogh's Parisian period, the painting depicts a lively street scene in Montmartre, with characters strolling past a windmill; the bright colours and energetic brushstrokes anticipate the style that the artist would develop in his later masterpieces. After a careful technical analysis, experts confirmed that it was an authentic Van Gogh: the work was auctioned in 2021 by Sotheby's auction house, with an estimate of between EUR 5 and 8 million. Its discovery has offered a new perspective on the painter's Parisian period, allowing scholars to delve deeper into his artistic development before his move to Arles.

These two cases demonstrate how art still has many stories to tell. Each discovery not only adds economic value, but also enriches our knowledge of art history, revealing previously unpublished details about the masters of the past. At Bottega Tifernate, our commitment to researching and reproducing works of art allows us to fully understand the secrets of the great masters. Art history is alive and evolving, and who knows what other hidden masterpieces are waiting to be unearthed.