A 16th-century gilded triptych, attributed to a follower of the renowned Italian Renaissance master Bernardino Pinturicchio (1454–1513), has been returned to Georgia and is now housed in the Art Palace of Georgia.

The artwork’s repatriation was made possible through the initiative of Georgia’s Minister of Culture, Tinatin Rukhadze, and through successful negotiations with European partners. The Ministry of Culture provided the financial backing for the acquisition.

Minister Rukhadze personally attended the presentation of the triptych, which is currently undergoing restoration at the Art Palace’s specialized laboratory.

Historical records trace the triptych’s journey to Georgia in the 19th century, brought by Prince Achille Charles Louis Murat (1847–1895). Following the prince’s death, it came into the possession of Andria Dadiani and later Count Oldenburg. After the Soviet occupation in 1921, the triptych, along with many other cultural artifacts, was taken out of Georgia and eventually acquired by a European collector.

The central panel of the triptych depicts the infant Jesus Christ with John the Baptist and bears signs of 17th–18th century restoration. The side panels portray distinctive 16th-century depictions of Saint Augustine and Saint Peter.

The triptych has completed quarantine procedures, and conservation efforts are now underway. It is scheduled to join the Art Palace’s permanent exhibition in the second half of September.

This year, the Ministry of Culture has also successfully returned three other significant artworks from Europe to the Art Palace’s collection, including two 16th-century Italian canvases depicting the four evangelists and Bouquet of Flowers by Dutch painter Jacob Campo Weyerman (1677–1747).