AI Analysis Sparks Debate Over Rubens' "The Bath of Diana" Authenticity, Challenging Art World Attributions

A new AI analysis has reignited the debate surrounding the authenticity of "The Bath of Diana," a painting believed to be a copy of a lost Rubens masterpiece. Art Recognition, a Swiss firm, suggests parts of the painting are authentic Rubens, a claim disputed by leading Rubens scholar Nils Büttner. This highlights the complexities of AI-driven art authentication. Art Recognition analyzed 29 sections of the painting. Ten sections had over 80% probability of being authentic, while four were deemed inauthentic, including the central figure of Diana. The mixed results suggest Rubens may have used assistants. The analysis, commissioned by the painting's owner, faces scrutiny. Büttner, despite supporting AI authentication, cites inconsistencies like the canvas primer and underdrawing, and the painting's quality, as reasons to doubt Rubens's involvement. He suggests the AI's dataset may be insufficient. The firm acknowledges their dataset has since improved. The case underscores the need for collaboration between AI and art experts for accurate authentication, as the technology's findings are still developing.