A DOSSIER of evidence has been produced to head off the latest claim that the publicly bought masterpiece The Madonna of the Pinks is a fake.

Continuing controversy has surrounded the supposed work by the Italian master Raphael, sold by the Duke of Northumberland to the National Gallery to help to meet the repair bill at Alnwick Castle.

An outcry was made when the duke considered selling it to the J Paul Getty Museum, in Los Angeles, for £35m.

He later agreed to its sale to the National Gallery, in London, ensuring the masterpiece remained in this country.

The £24.5m cost included £11.5m of Heritage Lottery funding, as well as several millions in lost taxes to the Treasury.

It took centre stage among some of Raphael's finest works in an exhibition that opened at the National Gallery on Wednesday.

The shadow over its authenticity was cast by James Beck, a professor of art history at Columbia University, in New York.

He said he had "devastating" evidence that the Renaissance master was not responsible for the painting.

Prof Beck points to the use of steely grey colours, unfamiliar in any other Raphael work, and the way the flowers, the Pinks, have been removed.

He said it was more likely to have been the work of an unknown 19th Century artist.

In response, the National Gallery said newly released scientific analysis proves it could not be a 19th Century copy, because pigments in the paint are similar to those in other Raphael works.

Exhibition curator Carol Plazzotta said the evidence incontrovertibly proved the painting was "completely consonant with other works by Raphael".

The exhibition runs until January 16.

Published: 25/10/2004