‘Undiscovered Titian painting’ had been hanging on wall of church for 100 years
The discoloured painting hung there for more than 100 years, without anyone realising the potential link to the Renaissance master.
A painting believed to be from Titian’s workshop has been discovered at a church in Herefordshire.
The discoloured painting hung there for more than 100 years, without anyone realising the potential link to the Renaissance master.
Art historian Ronald Moore now believes he has fund Titian’s signature on the canvas during work he was carrying out to restore it.
The painting, ‘The Last Supper’, was a gift to St Michael and All Angels Church in Ledbury in 1909.
Mr Moore told the BBC: ‘It always had a feel of Titian about it, but I could never identify it… now we have a breakthrough.’
He was tasked with researching and restoring the painting, which is 3.6 metres wide, around three years ago, along with assistant Patricia Kenny.
Mr Moore claimed that only a ‘major painter’ would have done an under-drawing like the one discovered on this canvas.
He used UV light to find the signature on the bottom left.
To add to the theory, he believes he has found Titian’s likeness on one of the apostles, which can be matched to a self-portrait known to be by the artist (as shown in the picture above).
Mr Moore believes the painting became a family portrait, as two boys look similar to two of Titian’s children.
The painter, whose full name was Tiziano Vecellio, died of the plague in 1576 in Renaissance Italy.
Mr Moore told the BBC: ‘Although he instigated the design with his son, it does not mean he painted it completely or even did much of the painting.
‘The exciting part is, that this is an undiscovered painting from Titian’s workshop.’
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