A precious painting by the Renaissance artist Romanino was unexpectedly discovered behind a closet in a little room inside a church in Valcamonica, Lombardy’s most extensive valley.
The Church of Santa Maria della Neve in Pisogne is currently in the final phase of a restoration project. The newly-found painting is in need of restoration as well as it lay hidden and forgotten for years. The last traces of the painting, described as "very exquisite", go back to such description found in a book from the 19th century.
Romanino, born in Brescia and active in Veneto and Lombardy during the Renaissance, worked at the church between 1533 and 1534; there, he completed a cycle of frescos depicting scenes from the Passion of Christ, considered one of his best works. An art critic defined it as the “Sistine Chapel of the Poor.”
Palazzo Martinengo in Brescia is currently hosting an exhibition featuring paintings by Romanino.
