Centuries-Old Church Painting Revealed as Renaissance Masterpiece, Then Disappeared
Tunstall, Lancashire – A painting that hung unnoticed for hundreds of years in St John the Baptist CE Church in Tunstall, Lancashire, has been revealed as a Renaissance treasure worth approximately £100,000, only to be removed from public view shortly after its unveiling. The discovery was made during filming for the BBC’s Fake or Fortune
program, captivating millions of viewers.
The painting, depicting the aftermath of Christ’s crucifixion, was identified as the work of Francesco Montemezzano, an Italian artist contemporary with masters like Tintoretto, and Titian. The revelation followed a meticulous investigation by Fiona Bruce and art expert Philip Mould, who travelled to Cambridge, London, and Venice to gather evidence and consult with scholars.
The journey to uncover the painting’s history also traced the story of its original purchase, revealing a complex family connection that ultimately led to the identification of Frederick Needham, a former vicar of St John’s in the early 1800s, as the buyer.
The reaction to the discovery was unexpectedly swift and overwhelming. Churchwarden Jane Greenhalgh, who initially contacted the producers of Fake or Fortune
, described the immediate aftermath of the broadcast. “It seemed like everyone wanted to come and see the picture and, we had to shut the church briefly and remove the picture for security reasons,” she said. “It was only on show for two days after the programme.”
The church briefly reopened, but visitors were ultimately greeted with a copy of Montemezzano’s work and postcards, as the original painting was taken into secure storage. “It’s a shame but we had to take it away for security reasons,” Greenhalgh explained.
Reverend Mark Cannon, the current vicar of St John’s, expressed hope that the investigation would shed light on the painting’s origins and its presence within the church. “We were hopeful of discovering something about its history, how it got here and why it’s in the church,” he said. “We’ve been down some blind alleys but in the end what was neglected by us all at the back of the church turns out to be something quite special.”
The discovery highlights the potential for hidden artistic treasures to be found in unexpected places, and the power of programs like Fake or Fortune
to bring these stories to light. The program series, as noted in Spectrum Magazine, focuses on finding lost treasures, conducting restoration projects, and identifying unrecognized masterpieces.
