Friday, August 21st, 2009
Uncovering Hidden Paintings

An x-ray technique uncovered the illustration below hidden beneath artist N. C. Wyeth's painting 'Family Portrait' (above). Courtesy of Brandywine River Museum
Van Gogh, N.C. Wyeth and other artists recycled canvases by painting over previous works. Today, museums scientists are using new X-ray technology to reveal the sketch of paintings buried underneath. Then they use chemistry to fill the colors in.
Guests
Jennifer Mass
Senior Scientist
Scientific Research and Analysis Laboratory
Winterthur Museum
Winterthur, Delaware
Related Links
Segment produced by:Laura Pelcher
Listen:
Friday, August 21st, 2009
-
Hurricane Forecast
-
Unscientific America
-
Building Circuits Using DNA
- Uncovering Hidden Paintings
-
Sizing Up Sustainable Food
Elsewhere on Sciencefriday.com
Frank Oppenheimer Biography
Museum Artists Keep It Real
The Art of the Natural History Museum
Painting With Light
X-Rays As Art
Beauty Scans
Beautiful Science
Art Conservation and Preservation













