The+Madonna+of+the+Veil;+Botticelli,+?

Picture courtesy of the National Gallery []
 * Thought to be, but not at all**

**HISTORY:**

In 1930, art collector Lord Lee of Fareham bought the //Madonna of the Veil// from an Italian dealer for $25,000. When he passed away in 1947, the painting went to the Courtauld Gallery in London. There was no documentation with this painting to help trace the origins, but it was believed to have been painted by Botticelli. The Medici Society in Florence published that painting as, “a superb composition of the greatest of all the Florentine painters” (Owen, p. 96).

Kenneth Clark, Director of the National Gallery from 1934, questioned the attribution of the painting to Botticelli, stating that it had “particular charm” and has “something of the silent cinema star” about it. Further tests after World War II confirmed his questioning, when they found that the robe of Madonna was painted with a Prussian blue; a pigment that came into use no earlier than the 18th century. Further, the pigments were found to be too fine to be hand-ground like those used in the 15th century (Jones, 1990).

Finally, in 1994, scientists used EDX analysis that showed the presence of 19th century pigments including cobalt blue, zinc chromate, and opaque chromium oxide green. The green color was not commercially available until 1862. The work has now been renamed as one of Umberto Giunti’s. From Siena, he developed a reputation for painting convincing forgeries. They note his expertise in duplicating techniques of master painters like Botticelli, and “crediting him with the ability to make the superficial impression of authenticity as strong as possible” (King, p.100).

**SOURCES:**

Jones, M. (1990). //Fake? the art of deception.// London: British Museum.

King, A. (1994). //An evaluation of selected methods of technical examination in the detection of forgeries.// London: Courtauld Institute of Art.

Owen, R. (2004, June 29). Duped art experts praise a master forger’. //The Times//,

Streeter, A. (1903). //Botticelli//. New York: G. Bell and Sons.