The Escher museum in The Hague has uncovered a hitherto unknown work by the  artist, which had been in his family since it was produced.

The work features the Italian hilltop village of Montecelio and was drawn in 1924 when Escher was spending time in Rome.

The museum says the work is unique because it does not have an edition number. ‘Unknown and important work by Escher rarely turns up,’ curator Micky Piller told RTL news.

Before Escher started on a print he always made a large number of preliminary drawings, the museum said. ‘But the careful composition and detail of this work make it clear it is not a study. Though Escher made no prints in 1924 due to the preparations for his wedding with Jetta Umiker, he apparently found time to create this complex work.’

Escher had given the work to one of his half brothers and his grandchildren decided to sell it.