Sometimes, the most extraordinary discoveries happen in the most ordinary places. That was certainly the case in Oxfordshire, where a Renaissance painting found gathering dust beneath a garage workbench has stunned the art world by fetching £685,000 at auction. The artwork, depicting the Madonna and Child, is believed to be by the celebrated 15th-century Italian painter Pietro Vannucci, more widely known as Perugino. The story of its rediscovery, the feverish global interest it sparked, and the dramatic auction that followed has captured imaginations far beyond the art community.
The painting’s journey from obscurity to headline-making sale began when a local Oxfordshire resident, unaware of its true origins or value, purchased it several years ago. It languished in a garage, hidden beneath tools and clutter, until its potential was finally recognized. When the painting was consigned to JS Fine Art, an auction house in Banbury, staff immediately sensed they had something special on their hands. Joe Smith, founder and principal auctioneer at JS Fine Art, recalled the moment: "It was one of those moments every auctioneer dreams of. We knew it was special, but the response was beyond anything we expected."
Once the painting was listed on the auction house’s website in September 2025, the reaction was swift and overwhelming. According to the Antiques Trade Gazette, the announcement generated such international interest that JS Fine Art’s phone lines were permanently engaged. Collectors from around the globe clamored for information and a chance to own a piece of Renaissance history. The painting’s subject—a serene Madonna with the Christ Child—only heightened the allure, as did its possible attribution to Perugino, a giant of the Italian Renaissance.
The auction itself, held on November 23, 2025, unfolded like a scene from a movie. Bidding took place online, by phone, and in the saleroom, with participants locked in a 15-minute battle of nerves and wallets. As the price climbed ever higher, anticipation in the room was palpable. Smith described the climax: "When the hammer fell, there was a hush—then applause." The final bid of £685,000 not only shattered expectations but also set a new house record for JS Fine Art, eclipsing their previous high of £265,000 for a painting by Eric Ravilious. (Some reports listed the previous record as £285,000, but in either case, the new sale was a dramatic leap.)
The winning bidder was a private collector, whose identity remains undisclosed. The painting was promptly taken to a fine art conservator for further study and preservation. It is believed that the new owner suspects the work is indeed by Perugino and is conducting additional research to confirm its origins. As with many old master paintings, questions of attribution can linger for years, with experts poring over brushwork, pigments, and historical records to unravel the truth.
Perugino’s name carries considerable weight in art circles, and for good reason. Born in Umbria in the mid-15th century, Pietro Vannucci rose to become one of the most influential artists of the Italian Renaissance. In his early career, he was considered on par with Leonardo da Vinci and was even deemed the "best painter in Italy" in 1502. Perugino’s fame reached new heights when he was commissioned, alongside Sandro Botticelli, to paint the walls of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace—a generation before Michelangelo’s iconic ceiling fresco.
Despite his early acclaim, Perugino’s legacy has been a study in contrasts. According to the Victoria & Albert Museum, Michelangelo once dismissed him as "clumsy," and Perugino’s own pupil, Raphael, would eventually eclipse his master’s fame. Yet Perugino’s works have enjoyed enduring popularity, especially among 19th-century artists and collectors. The V&A itself acquired his Nativity fresco in 1862, a piece originally painted for a village church in Fontignano but left unfinished when Perugino died of the plague in 1523.
The sale of the Oxfordshire Madonna and Child painting comes on the heels of other record-breaking prices for Perugino’s work. Just last year, a pair of oil on wood paintings by the artist—depicting Mary and Jesus crowned with thorns—fetched €739,000 at Dorotheum’s Old Masters sale, setting a new benchmark for his market value. These figures underscore the continuing fascination with Renaissance art and the fierce competition among collectors to own a piece of history.
For JS Fine Art, the sale represents more than just a financial milestone. It’s a moment of validation for the regional auction house, which found itself at the center of an international bidding frenzy. Joe Smith reflected on the experience, saying, "The longer you looked, the more you realised the quality of the workmanship and the elegance of the Renaissance detailing." For Smith and his team, the event was a career highlight: "It was one of those moments every auctioneer dreams of. We knew it was special, but the response was beyond anything we expected."
The story also highlights the unpredictable nature of the art world, where priceless treasures can surface in the most unlikely places. The Oxfordshire seller, who had bought the painting years earlier with no inkling of its significance, now finds themselves at the center of a remarkable tale. Their discovery adds to the lore of lost masterpieces turning up in attics, garages, and secondhand shops—a reminder that art history is still being written, sometimes by accident.
As the dust settles on the record-breaking auction, the Madonna and Child painting embarks on a new chapter. Its new owner is reportedly eager to unravel more about its provenance and ensure its preservation for generations to come. Meanwhile, the art world waits with bated breath for further news—both about the painting’s origins and the possibility that other forgotten masterpieces might be waiting to be found in the most unexpected places.
For now, the Oxfordshire Madonna stands as a testament to the enduring power of Renaissance art, the thrill of discovery, and the magic that can happen when history and serendipity collide.
