THE mystery surrounding a piece of artwork hanging in Tatton Park's mansion has been solved thanks to a BBC television programme.

The dark portrait, which hangs over a doorway at the entrance to the grand home, is a painting of an unknown Physician that was always thought to have been created at the hand of an Italian artist in the mid-16th century.

However, thanks to the team at BBC 4's Britain's Lost Masterpieces, the mystery of uncovering the exact identity of the artist and who his or her subject was will be revealed.

Knutsford Guardian: The Physician painting - Credit Peter Spooner.

Mystery has surrounded the 16th century painting of an unknown physician.

Bendor Grosvenor and Emma Dabiri, not only seek to uncover the original artist but learn more about who the sitter was and his significance and even reveal hidden layers of the painting through restoration work.

The first Earl of Tatton Park, Wilbraham, is also explored as the original proprietor of the painting and how his social climb to an aristocratic life led to him turning the mansion at Tatton into a marvel of wealth and luxury.

There is even a trip to Rome and Florence for Bendor where he finally confirms an attribution for the painting, and ultimately reveals the identity of the mystery sitter.

Series 5 of Britain’s Lost Masterpieces on BBC four, will air on Monday, February 8 at 9pm.

Although Tatton Park’s parkland remains open for local exercise, you can still explore Tatton’s wide estate online at www.tattonpark.org.uk.