A new method of recreation hidden paintings by Petra Kamenicka

A group of scientists from Europe introduced on Wednesday a new, advanced x-ray method. This method is used to reveal hidden paintings underneath surface. This is a very modern and successful method, which allows scientists to obtain high quality and more detailed images of old masterpieces hidden under other masterpieces.
For a long time, experts and art historians have been using methods based on x-rays to explore old works of art. All this effort result into uncertain, black and white image.
The inventors of this method are Joris Dik, a materials scientist from Delft University and Koen Janssnes, a chemist from the University of Antwerp. They have combined both, modern technology and great knowledge of old pigments.
An international research team from European countries has successfully applied this unique technique for the first time to Vincent van Gogh’s painting, entitled,, Patch of Grass”.
Behind this painting, they discovered a portrait of a woman’s face, which was painted over in 1887.
The woman’s head is probably the same model Van Gogh painted in a series of images resulting to the masterpiece ,,The Potato Eaters” in 1885.
It is well-known fact that Vincent van Gogh usually painted over his older paintings, this was caused by his problems with finances. According to estimations of some scientists, about thirty percent of Van Gogh’s images conceal other compositions underneath them. This new technique discovers hidden painting of this type. Scientist utilized the knowledge that mercury atoms are a part of red pigment and antimony atoms are reflecting yellow pigment. They easily visualized details of nose and eyes of a woman. However, scanning of a small part of hidden picture takes several days.


related story: http://www.wtop.com/?nid=105&sid=1450823

by Petra Kamenicka for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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