Historian Claims El Greco Portrait Depicts Architect

ROME—Italian art historian Lionello Puppi has claimed that a famous El Greco painting is a portrait of Andrea Palladio, a revolutionary Renaissance architect, reports the Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA). The work, which was once part of Peter Paul Rubens' private collection, was originally thought to be a self-portait by Tintoretto. It was later realized to be the work of El Greco after art historians noticed the Greek artist's signature in the bottom left corner of the painting.

Historians dispute of the subject of the work, but Puppi has concluded that it is Palladio after comparing it to the only known portrait of the architect, a 1576 painting by Giambattista Maganza. Puppi further supports his theory by pointing to evidence which shows a friendship between El Greco and Palladio.

The painting will go on display in September at Palazzo Barbaran da Porto in Vicenza, Italy, as part of a major exhibition celebrating the 500th anniversary of Palladio's birth.