Artificial intelligence (AI) has identified a subtle discrepancy in a famous painting by Renaissance master Raphael: the face of Saint Joseph in Madonna della Rosa was likely painted by someone else. This finding, published in Heritage Science, adds new weight to long-standing debates about the artwork’s complete authorship. The AI’s analysis marks a shift in how art authentication is done, proving that machines can uncover details invisible to the human eye.
The Mystery of Saint Joseph
For centuries, the Madonna della Rosa has been attributed entirely to Raphael. The painting surfaced in Spain in the mid-19th century after a period of undocumented history. While scholars have acknowledged stylistic inconsistencies in the artwork, the origin of these differences has been unclear. Art historians have long suspected that Raphael’s workshop may have played a role in the painting, particularly through his pupils, such as Giulio Romano and Gianfrancesco Penni.
AI’s Role in Art Authentication
Researchers at the University of Bradford and other institutions trained an AI algorithm using authenticated Raphael paintings. The system, based on Microsoft’s ResNet50 architecture combined with a Support Vector Machine, learned to recognize his style with 98% accuracy at a microscopic level. When applied to the Madonna della Rosa, the AI confirmed Raphael’s hand in the Madonna, the Child, and St. John. However, the face of Saint Joseph was flagged as inconsistent.
“The computer sees far more deeply than the human eye, to a microscopic level.”
— Hassan Ugail, University of Bradford
Previous debates over the painting’s authenticity have noted the less refined quality of Saint Joseph’s face compared to the rest of the artwork. The AI’s analysis supports these suspicions: while it can’t definitively identify the other artist, it confirms that Joseph’s face wasn’t painted by Raphael.
The Future of Art Expertise
The research team emphasizes that AI isn’t intended to replace art experts but to augment their methods. Authentication relies on provenance, pigment analysis, and condition assessment – AI simply provides another data point. This technology could prove invaluable in resolving other mysteries surrounding famous artworks.
The study highlights how modern tools can reveal hidden truths in classic paintings, reinforcing the idea that even the most revered masterpieces may hold secrets still waiting to be uncovered.
