The authorship of de Brécy tondo has once more come under scrutiny by art experts, prompting a reevaluation of its origins. Previously, artificial intelligence had attributed the artwork to the renowned painter Raphael. Earlier this year, researchers from the University of Nottingham and the University of Bradford utilized AI technology to examine the piece and determined with a high probability, up to 97%, that the tondo de Brécy was indeed the creation of Raphael Santi.

This conclusion was supported by a striking resemblance between the depiction of the Virgin Mary’s face in the famous painting “Sistine Madonna” exhibited in the Gallery of Old Masters, Dresden and the face portrayed in Tondo de Brécy. This comparison was made using a sophisticated facial recognition system.

However, a recent study conducted by the Swiss company Art Recognition has cast doubt on the previous attribution. The new analysis suggests, with a probability of up to 85%, that the painting may not be attributed to Raphael.

The notion that this painting, acquired at a 1981 sale, might be a lost masterpiece by Raphael was initially proposed by collector George Lester Winward. Subsequently, he placed the work in a trust specifically created for the purpose, allowing interested specialists to conduct further studies and analyses.