Experts found the painting "The mystical betrothal of St. Catherine" inscription, which may be an early signature of Raphael

experts found the painting" The mystical betrothal of St. Catherine's "signature, which, in their opinion, did not anyone other than Rafael Sanzio (Raphael Santi). The canvas was created about 1499, when the artist was only 16 years old. So words RAPHAEL SANT, which experts could look at a bizarre patterns may be an early signature of the great master.

«This signature is very important: the picture may be the earliest known works of Raphael" - told art critic Carlo Pedretti (Carlo Pedretti) University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). He said laboratory tests confirmed that the letters of the signature - the original and were made at the same time as the painting itself.

Canvas "mystical betrothal of St. Catherine, which shows the Virgin Mary on the throne with the Infant Jesus on her lap, surrounded by St. Catherine, St. Jerome and donator, for many centuries been kept in private collections. The earliest mention of it related to a French collection of XVIII century.

Vetstsozi Alessandro (Alessandro Vezzosi), director of the Museum of Leonardo in the town of Vinci, said that after the discovery of Raphael's signature is required to conduct further studies. "It's just an amazing discovery - he said. - Still very much there is to know about the painting itself and its Provenance».

Now "mystical betrothal of St. Catherine can be seen in the exhibition" ... And there was light "in Gothenburg, Sweden, bringing together the works of the greatest masters of the Renaissance: Michelangelo (Michelangelo), Leonardo da Vinci (Leonardo da Vinci) and Raphael. It will last until August 15, 2010.

Material prepared Ekaterina Guseva, AI

Sources: news.discovery.com , artinvestment.ru