AI analysis finds £71,000 painting dismissed as copy is a Caravaggio

A recent study has revealed that a painting previously dismissed as a copy is actually a work by the renowned 17th-century artist Caravaggio, with an 85.7% probability of authenticity. This finding is significant as it not only elevates the status of the painting, The Lute Player, housed at Badminton House, but also highlights the importance of scientific analysis in art authentication. The revelation challenges previous assessments by major institutions like Sotheby's and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, sparking renewed interest in Caravaggio's limited surviving works.