CIVITAVECCHIA, Italy—In 1972, Tarcisio and Teresa de Paolis decided that they wanted an extra bathroom for their apartment, which is located just outside Rome in a former medieval tower, and, being a handyman, Mr. de Paolis decided to handle the work himself. However, as he removed plaster from an apartment wall, he made a shocking discovery: an immaculate fresco.

"First I came across Saint Peter's sword, then his hand and arm," de Paolis told the Agence France-Presse. After removing more plaster, he eventually discovered a slightly miniaturized copy of Raphael’s Room of Heliodorus, which is today part of the Vatican Museums and located just next to the Sistine Chapel.

Though the couple feared losing their home as a result of the discovery, they contacted the Italian culture ministry, which sent experts to the apartment to take samples. Amazingly, though, the experts never returned, and the case was lost within the Italian bureaucracy. When officials finally did follow-up, Mr. de Paolis told them to "get lost."

Now, after almost four decades of living with the art, they have decided to go public with their find, which experts say was likely painted by a Renaissance master, Ugo da Scarpi, in the 16th century.

Scholars who have seen the work have provided positive reports. Nicole Dacos, a professor emeritus of art history at the University of Brussels and a Raphael expert, said, "This place should become a sort of museum."

The de Paolises said they would be happy to oblige, if someone can offer them a "little house" in return.

Read more at the Telegraph.