A Renaissance painting discovered beneath a garage workbench has sold for an astonishing £685,000 at an auction in Banbury, rewriting the record books for local auction house JS Fine Art.
The artwork, a Madonna and Child believed to be by renowned Italian Renaissance painter Pietro Vannucci—better known as Perugino—sparked a tense 15-minute bidding battle that left the room momentarily silent before erupting into applause.
Perugino, who lived from 1450 to 1523, was one of the most influential artists of the Renaissance and an early master whose prominence once rivalled that of Leonardo da Vinci.
Best known for helping to decorate the walls of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Palace, Perugino’s works are considered invaluable, both artistically and historically. The unexpected appearance of a painting attributed to him in a British garage stunned art experts and collectors across Europe.
Joe Smith, founder and principal auctioneer at JS Fine Art, described the moment as one of the most extraordinary of his career. “It was one of those moments every auctioneer dreams of,” he said.
“We knew it was special, but the response was beyond anything we expected. The longer you looked, the more you realised the quality of the workmanship and the elegance of the Renaissance detailing.”
The painting, depicting the Madonna cradling the infant Christ, was initially brought to the auction house after being discovered in a private home, tucked away beneath tools and storage boxes.
According to the auctioneers, the owner had no idea of its potential significance until experts examined the brushwork, pigments and stylistic features consistent with Perugino’s early period.
Once catalogued and authenticated to the highest standard available prior to sale, the artwork rapidly caught the attention of collectors. On auction day, telephone bidders from across Europe and the United States joined in, pushing the price far beyond its initial estimate. As the bidding climbed past £500,000, the room grew increasingly tense.
“When the hammer finally fell at £685,000, there was a hush,” Smith recalled. “Then the room erupted into applause. It was the kind of energy you rarely experience in a regional saleroom.”
The buyer, a private collector who has chosen to remain anonymous, arranged for the painting to be sent immediately to a fine art conservator for assessment and preservation. Experts believe the piece may undergo months of detailed restoration work, which could reveal even more about its origins and artistic lineage.
Art historians say discoveries of this magnitude are rare but not unheard of. Homes, attics and storage spaces across Europe occasionally yield forgotten treasures, often brought back from travel generations earlier or inherited with little knowledge of their true value.
However, finding a work associated with an artist of Perugino’s stature is exceptionally uncommon. Perugino’s influence on Western art is profound. As a pioneer of soft, harmonious compositions and serene religious imagery, he shaped the visual language of the High Renaissance.
His workshop in Florence trained numerous important artists, including Raphael, who would later surpass him in fame. Although Perugino’s reputation waned in later centuries, the rediscovery of works attributed to him has helped renew appreciation for his contribution to Renaissance art.
The sale marks a milestone for JS Fine Art, surpassing its previous record of £265,000. For a regional auction house, the success underscores the unpredictable nature of the art market and the enduring fascination with Renaissance works.
“We’re incredibly proud to have handled a painting of such historical and artistic importance,” Smith said. “It reminds us that extraordinary discoveries can be found in the most ordinary places.”
As the painting begins its new life in the hands of a private collector, experts anticipate growing interest in the story behind its unexpected journey from a dusty workbench to one of Banbury’s most remarkable auction moments.
Art enthusiasts and historians alike now wait eagerly for the conservator’s findings, hoping the masterpiece may yet reveal new secrets from the Renaissance world.
