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Earliest Signature of Renaissance Artist Raphael Found in Painting

Art experts find what they believe is the earliest signature of the master Raphael, hidden within a painting's arabesque decorations.

Hidden beneath arabesque decorations, art experts have found what they believe is the earliest signature placed on a painting by the Renaissance master Raphael (1483-1520), who at the time was a 16-year-old boy.

Featuring the words "RAPHAEL SANT" -- Santi was Raphael's real surname -- the signature has been detected in an obscure painting that has been kept in private collections for the past three centuries.

The finding will be unveiled on Saturday in Gothenburg, Sweden, where the painting will go on public show as one of the star attractions of the exhibit "…And There Was Light."

Read entire article at Discovery News