Italy: A masterpiece worth over 500,000 euros sold off by mistake

A glaring dating error on a “Virgin and Child” painting—in which a 3 was mistaken for an 8—allowed the work to be exported to Switzerland. The Council of State ruled in favor of the buyer.

Can a single digit really change the fate of a work of art? The case reported by the Corriere della Sera, involving the Ministry of Culture, proves that it can. A “Virgin and Child,” initially considered a 19th-century painting of modest value, was authorized for export to Switzerland because a “3” was interpreted as an “8,” changing the date from 1350 to 1850. What appeared to be a simple administrative formality ultimately turned out to be a case bound to spark debate, with major economic and cultural consequences.

The Export Application and the Experts’ Assessment

The case dates back to 2020, when a Lugano-based company filed an application to obtain a certificate of free circulation for the artwork. In the documents, the painting was described as belonging to the 19th-century Italian school of Byzantine style, with a listed market value of 38,000 euros.

The inscription on the back of the wooden panel also appeared to confirm this interpretation, apparently mentioning the date 1850 and attributing the painting to a 19th-century artist. The experts tasked with the examination found no grounds to prevent its export, describing the painting as a work of modest quality.

Restoration Completely Changes the Story

The turning point in the case came in 2022, during a restoration carried out in Switzerland. In fact, the date inscribed on the back of the work was not 1850, but 1350. Analyses allowed the painting to be attributed to the famous “Master of 1302,” also known as the Master of the Parma Baptistery, an anonymous artist active during the first half of the 14th century and the creator of major works preserved in that very same baptistery. From a simple devotional painting of little interest, the wooden panel thus became a medieval work of exceptional historical and artistic importance.

The value of the work skyrockets, exceeding half a million euros

This new attribution also dramatically changes the painting’s market value. The prestigious auction house Christie’s has included the work in its “Old Masters” catalog, estimating its value at between 400,000 and 500,000 pounds sterling—a sum that far exceeds half a million euros. This represents a massive financial disparity compared to the 38,000 euros indicated in the documentation initially provided to obtain the export permit.

The Ministry’s Appeal and the Final Decision

In 2023, the Ministry of Culture attempted to rectify the situation by revoking, through an administrative withdrawal procedure, the certificate of free circulation issued several years earlier. However, the purchasing company challenged this measure before the Lazio Administrative Court (TAR) and obtained a favorable ruling. Subsequently, the Council of State also upheld this decision, ruling that the ministry could no longer revoke the authorization granted after such a long period of time, thereby effectively confirming the validity of the export.

A case that reignites the debate on heritage protection

This story has reignited a heated debate over the protection of Italy’s cultural heritage and the procedures for evaluating works of art intended for export, sparking inevitable political controversy. It all seems to have stemmed from a simple misinterpretation, but the consequences have proven to be far-reaching: a medieval painting of great historical value has left the country for good after being classified as a 19th-century work of little significance.