A REPORTER article about the planned private unveiling of a lost masterpiece in Ledbury Parish Church has generated so much excitement and interest, anyone in the town will now be welcome to attend the special event.

The 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 on Monday, August 6, at 6pm.

Afterwards an expert will give a talk about the painting, which will reveal in depth the true status of the masterpiece, which probably has links with the workshop of Paulo Caliari, who is known to history as Veronese.

At first the unveiling and the talk was to have been by invitation only.

But parishoner Ian Beer, who has been arranging the event said: "Anyone in the town, not just church goers, would be welcome at the unveiling by the Bishop. The Reporter has awakened much interest, and so many people are asking whether they can come or not, and they can!"

The painting has recently undergone restoration, allowing its marvellous colours to be visible for the first time in generations.

The masterpiece has been hanging in Ledbury Parish Church since 1908, but it is far older than that and probably came to England as a result of The Grand Tour to Italy, which wealthy young people undertook to further their education, from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries.

Parishoner, Cllr Liz Harvey said of the newly restored painting, which is 13ft in length: "The colour and detail revealed by this restoration is breath taking.

"If you've ever visited St Michael's and glanced in passing at this enormous gloomy painting please visit again during or after the unveiling. You won't be disappointed."