Eagle-eyed artwork robotic exposes priceless masterpiece by Renaissance genius as a pretend
“While the painting’s authenticity as a Raphael original has been questioned since the mid-1800s recent AI-powered analysis points to a significant conclusion – St Joseph’s face was likely painted by another artist”
An art bot has exposed one of the world’s finest paintings as a dud. Boffins at the University of Bradford used AI to prove Madonna della Rosa – a masterpiece thought to have been painted by Italian Renaissance genius Raphael in the 16th Century – was not all his own work.
It depicts Mary carrying the infant Jesus, Joseph, a young John the Baptist and a rose on a table from which the artwork got its title. Though Raphael did most of the priceless picture – hanging in the Museo del Prado in Spanish capital Madrid – the ‘bot found Joseph’s face was painted by someone else.
The judgement could hit the artwork’s value – though some experts say it makes it even more interesting.
Uni computer scientist Hassan Ugail said: “Using deep feature analysis we used pictures of authenticated Raphael paintings to train the computer to recognise his style to a very detailed degree, from the brushstrokes, the colour palette, the shading, and every aspect of the work.
“The computer sees far more deeply than the human eye – to microscopic level.’’
The analysis, grounded in Microsoft’s ResNet50 (corr) deep learning module, used an algorithm that could successfully identify Raphael’s work.
Researchers tested separate parts of the painting – aka Madonna of the Rose – and found Mary, Jesus and John all showed clear signs of Raphael’s style.
But Joseph’s face – in the top left corner – did not match the rest, according to the study published in Heritage Science.
“When we tested the della Rosa as a whole the results were not conclusive,’’ said Ugail.
“So then we tested the individual parts and while the rest of the picture was confirmed as Raphael, Joseph’s face came up as most likely not Raphael.’’
Prime suspect for the face fill-in is Giulio Romano – one of Raphael’s pupils
Hassan said artificial intelligence could be used to help authenticate any artwork in future.
“This is not a case of AI taking people’s jobs,” he said.
“The process of authenticating a work of art involves looking at many aspects, from its provenance, pigments, condition of the work, and so on.
“However this sort of software can be used as one tool to assist in the process.’’
According to science news website earth.com the research could provide the answer to a long-standing controversy about the painting.
“The painting represents a transitional moment in art history,’’ it said.
“Its history is intertwined with debates over authorship and the collaborative nature of Renaissance workshops which were common at the time.
“This has made Madonna della Rosa a subject of fascination for art historians and enthusiasts alike.
“Art critics have long noted St Joseph’s face appears less refined compared to the other figures.
“While the painting’s authenticity as a Raphael original has been questioned since the mid-1800s recent AI-powered analysis points to a significant conclusion – St Joseph’s face was likely painted by another artist.
“AI’s ability to analyze brushstrokes, shading, and colour palette at an unparalleled level provides a new dimension to evaluating artwork.
“Madonna della Rosa , painted between 1518 and 1520, remains a captivating masterpiece.
“Yet, its history grows richer with this discovery, adding another layer to the narrative of Renaissance art.
“As AI continues to advance it holds promise for uncovering hidden secrets in centuries-old works and for enhancing our understanding of artistic legacies while preserving their mystique.’’
One art expert commented in an online discussion: “I don’t know if it makes it less or more valuable.’’
A wag added: “If I’d bought it I’d want my money back.’’
