AI unveils hidden brushwork mystery in Raphael's masterpiece

Artificial intelligence has the ability to surprise and analyse data that often eludes the human mind. Through algorithms, it was discovered that one of the figures in Raphael Sanzio's "Madonna della Rosa" was not from the master’s brush, with the face of Saint Joseph revealed as not being his work. This discovery has piqued the interest of researchers who have been debating the authenticity of this piece for some time.

Raphael Sanzio, also known as Raffaello Sanzio, was a renowned Italian painter and architect of the Renaissance, born in 1483 in Urbino. Alongside Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, he is regarded as one of the three greatest masters of the Italian Renaissance. He was celebrated for his extraordinary sense of harmony, composition, and the beauty of the human form, as exemplified by his famous Madonnas and monumental frescoes in the Vatican.

A team of scientists from the United Kingdom and the USA developed an algorithm based on Raphael Sanzio’s known works, enabling the computer to identify the master's style with great precision. As explained by mathematician Hassan Ugail from the University of Bradford, AI analyses works at a microscopic level, allowing for the precise recognition of the painter's characteristic features.

The analysis showed that the faces of the Madonna, Child, and Saint John are indeed by the famous creator. However, during the analysis, AI confirmed that the faces of the Madonna and Child are Raphael's. Nevertheless, Saint Joseph's face did not match the master's style, and art historians have long debated who the author of this part of the work is. Modern technology confirmed that this part of the painting is less refined and does not fully convey the artist's skill.

One of the suspected authors of Saint Joseph's face is Giulio Romano, who was a student of Raphael. Although there is no certainty about the authorship, AI provides new evidence in this matter.

Researchers emphasise that AI will not replace experts, but it can be a valuable tool in the authentication of artworks. They claim that artificial intelligence is meant to assist rather than replace the insight of specialists. The computer conducts image analyses at a microscopic level, allowing for the identification of details that are invisible to the human eye. This capability makes it possible to detect elements that usually escape human attention, enabling a more accurate examination and evaluation of paintings, which is invaluable in many fields of science and medicine.