AI Raphael on the block
February 16 2026
Picture: Roseberys
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
A reader has kindly been in touch with news that a painting, which researchers from the University of Bradford and the University of Nottingham back in 2023 claimed AI had a '97% similarity' to Raphael, is coming up for sale at Roseberys in London. The painting will be offered as 'After Raphael' carrying an estimate of £8k - £12k.
To quote the key part of the painting's catalogue note:
In 2022, Professor Hassan Ugail, Director of the Centre of Visual computing at the University of Bradford, published research on analysis of the de Brécy Tondo, comparing its colour, texture, tonal values, hue, saturation and brushwork with 32 authentic paintings by Raphael, resulting in a comparison algorithm reporting a similarity value of 99%. Following this, the de Brécy Tondo was exhibited at the Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Bradford, from July 2023 to January 2024.
However, the attribution to Raphael has been disputed and is generally accepted as a later copy. The picture was possibly owned by Queen Henrietta Maria (1609-1669), who may have passed the work for safekeeping to her treasurer and receiver-general, Sir Richard Wynn (1588-1649). For further information, see https://www.debrecy.org.uk/.
As a reminder, here's the article from the BBC on the rediscovery back in 2023.
