A Renaissance painting discovered beneath a garage workbench has sold for an astounding £685,000 ($850,000) at a Banbury auction house, setting a new record for the venue. The artwork, depicting the Madonna and Child, is believed to be the work of Pietro Vannucci, better known as Perugino, one of the most influential artists of the Italian Renaissance who lived from 1450 to 1523.
The sale took place at JS Fine Art auctioneers following an intense 15-minute bidding battle that captivated the auction room. Joe Smith, founder and principal auctioneer at JS Fine Art, described the moment as extraordinary. "It was one of those moments every auctioneer dreams of," Smith said. "We knew it was special, but the response was beyond anything we expected."
The painting was ultimately purchased by a private collector whose identity has not been disclosed. Following the sale, the artwork was immediately taken to a fine art conservator for professional care and restoration. The sale represents a significant milestone for JS Fine Art, more than doubling their previous house record of £265,000.
Perugino was renowned as one of the masters of the Italian Renaissance, considered in his early career to be equal to Leonardo da Vinci in skill and reputation. His prestigious commissions included painting the walls of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Palace in Rome, cementing his place among the great artists of his era.
Smith emphasized the exceptional quality of the discovered work, noting how its Renaissance craftsmanship became increasingly apparent upon closer examination. "The longer you looked, the more you realized the quality of the workmanship and the elegance of the Renaissance detailing," he explained. The dramatic conclusion of the auction left a lasting impression on all present. "When the hammer fell, there was a hush – then applause," Smith recalled, capturing the electric atmosphere of the historic sale.
