Lost Baroque Masterpiece Found In New Rochelle Church

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — After an art history professor spotted a 17th century Baroque masterpiece on display in an unlikely location, a painting's rediscovery is leaving the art world breathless.

The Holy Family Church in New Rochelle announced the Cesare Dandini painting, that was long thought to have been a lost piece of art history, will be loaned to Iona College for display in the atrium of the Ryan Library. The "Holy Family with the Infant Saint John" painting by the Florentine Baroque master who died nearly four centuries ago was donated to the church in the early 1960s, according to a statement released by the parish on Monday.

Church officials said that Monsignor Charles Fitzgerald was instrumental in obtaining the work of art, which was displayed over the church's Olive Street entrance for the last 50 years plus.

The historically significant painting reemerged thanks to Iona Assistant Professor of Visual Arts Thomas Ruggio, who immediately knew he was looking at something special during a visit to Holy Family earlier this year. The church is just a short walk from Iona's New Rochelle campus, according to a report from New York City ABC-affiliate WABC.

"I knew immediately that a quest had begun," Ruggio told ABC News. "I realized immediately it was an Italian Baroque painting. And I sort of did a double take, why is it here? I immediately got up and started to take some bad pictures with my cellphone."

After an investigation that tapped experts in Milan and New York City, the provenance of the painting was confirmed and a decades-long mystery was solved. The public will now have a chance to see the painting in person for the nest three months.

The painting will be on exhibit at the Iona New Rochelle campus from Sept. 16, until Dec. 18.