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 Mario Scalini, state superintendent for art in Modena, said he was doing an inventory of 20,000 paintings when he noticed an unusually ornate 16th century frame around an exquisitely painted portrait of a woman.
He said Friday he had a hunch the painting was Raphael's and not a copy as long thought and sent it for laboratory analysis.
Florence laboratory expert Anna Pelagotti told The Associated Press infrared testing revealed three layers, including a preparatory sketch that clearly appeared to be done by Raphael.
But other experts cautioned that only art historians can conclude if Raphael did the work.
[Associated
Press]
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