Saint Bernadino of Siena 15th Century, by Siena di Pietro, Italian Gold Ground, on loan from Goldthorpe Parish, Diocese of Sheffield, via York Minster.

Exhibition Notice: Rare 15th century panels by Sano di Pietro can be seen at York Art Gallery until March 31 2009.

Two extremely rare 15th century Sienese panels discovered in a Yorkshire church after lying unrecognised for decades have gone on display at York Art Gallery.

Laura Turner, curator of art at the gallery, said: “These panels are a truly incredible find and we are extremely proud to be able to put them on public show for the first time since they have been accredited to Sano di Pietro."

“The pieces are stunning to look at but there is also a real sense of mystery about them as so much remains unknown about their incredible past.”

The pieces had remained unrecognised in the church of St John and St Mary Magdalene in Goldthorpe, South Yorkshire, and they are some of the artist's largest works to be found outside Italy.

The panels were sent to York Minster for safe keeping after Christies' valuers and an expert from New York identified them as works by Sano di Pietro.

Unidentified Saint, 15th Century, by Sano di Pietro, Italian Gold Ground, on loan from Goldthorpe Parish, Diocese of Sheffield, via York Minster.

The two gold ground panels are thought to be part of a larger altar piece in a Tuscan church and depict Saint Bernardino and an unknown saint.

Little is known about the artist except that he was an early Renaissance artist born in Siena and was a pupil of important 15th Century Sienese painter Sassetta. It is known that di Pietro completed some of Sassetta’s works upon his death.

There is no information on how the paintings came to Yorkshire, but one theory suggests that they came from Lord Halifax who funded the church's building in 1916.

The paintings had been shown in the Lady Chapel, where they were difficult to study and so they remained unstudied for decades.

Following the loan to the gallery, the works will go on display at York Minster, who has agreed a five-year loan from the Parish of Goldthorpe in the Diocese of Sheffield.

For more information go to www.yorkartgallery.org.uk or telephone 01904 687687.

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