LEDBURY'S newly discovered and restored Italian masterpiece of The Last Supper, which dates back to the 16th century, will be officially unveiled by the Bishop of Hereford.

The painting, some 13ft in length, has been hanging in the Parish Church since 1908; but few if any over the years have suspected what a true Renaissance treasure was on show.

Finally, an unveiling and a scholarly talk, by invitation only, will reveal in depth the true status of the masterpiece, which probably has links with the workshop of Paulo Caliari, who was known as Veronese.

Until now, most people visiting to medieval church have paid more attention to the nineteenth century copy of Leonardo's Last Supper, at the altar.

But the church's other Last Supper, on the west wall, is an authentic Renaissance work: described as "something of a masterpiece" by the man commissioned to restore it, artist and conservator Ronald Moore.

Speaking last month, when he first made his announcement, Mr Moore said: "This is turning out to be far more important than we realised.

“It’s probably mid-16th century from an Italian Renaissance painter who was aware of Leonardo’s Last Supper in Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan."

The official unveiling by the Bishop of Hereford will take place on Monday August 6, at 6pm.

Afterwards, Mr Moore will give a talk about the remarkable painting.

How exactly an Italian Renaissance masterpiece ended up in Herefordshire is something of a mystery.

But it is believed it may have been brought to the county by a wealthy local family.

The Grand Tour to Italy was considered to be an almost essential part of genteel education in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and many art works found their way back to Britain as a result.

The possible link to the workshop of Veronese is as intriguing as it is astonishing.

Veronese is considered to be one of the 'big three' of Venetian painting in the 16th century, the other two being Titian and Tintoretto.