The £1m Renaissance Painting Which Boy Fell Onto 'Isn't Actually A Masterpiece'

The £1 million painting that was seriously damaged after a young boy stumbled and accidentally punched his hand through the canvas may not actually be a genuine masterpiece, it’s claimed.

The art world was left stunned after the 350-year-old “Flowers” - by Paolo Porpora - was almost ruined at “The Face of Leonardo, Images of a Genius” exhibition in Taipei, Taiwan.

Astonishing CCTV footage captured the moment the local 12-year-old smashed a fist-shaped hole in the oil canvas, while holding a fizzy drink.

Now, however, it’s been suggested that the painting was not in fact a genuine masterpiece.

Local media say they found a catalogue showing the same picture, but attributing it to a far less significant artist.

And art experts also said they could not imagine a painting of such value would have been left open to public without better protection and humidity control.

Local tabloid Apple Daily dug up a 2012 auction catalogue for an identical painting.

The the Della Rocca Casa d’Aste auction house labelled it as “Composizione con vaso di fiori”, belonging to Mario Nuzzi, another 17th-century painter.

If true, the painting’s value would also be greatly diminished, as the piece was priced in between £18,220 to £21,855.

Further doubt was added to the painting when senior art curators in Taiwan claimed no real Renaissance painting would be exposed to the open air without temperature and humidity regulations.

However Andrea Rossi, curator at the art expo insisted that the 17th century painting was authentic.

Following the incident, which is believed to have happened several weeks ago, Rossi had personally overseen the restoration of the painting, which was paid for by an insurance company, meaning the boy - and his family - were not asked to bear what would have been a hefty fee.

When asked whether the media could see a certificate of authenticity, Rossi added: “It belongs to the owner; the owner decides what he wants to do with the certificate.”

Following successful restoration of painting, Rossi will return it to its owner in Italy, who has so far remained anonymous.