Overpainted masterpieces revealed

July 31, 2008 All artists suffer for their work, very few become successful and sadly, even fewer artists become successful in their own lifetime. Given the price of canvas, many paintings were painted a second time, and many famous works of art still conceal previous works by the same artist. Now a new technique based on synchrotron radiation-induced X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, is unveiling the paintings that were underneath in full colour and will greatly facilitate the study of other 'over painted' works of art in the future. The new technique was recently applied for the first time to the painting “Patch of Grass” by Vincent van Gogh, revealing a portrait of a woman underneath.

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