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What lies beneath: the fakes, mistakes and discoveries at the National Gallery

Victorian censors painted over a beautiful Renaissance picture of a girl to make her look less sultry, experts have discovered.

Scientists working at the National Gallery found that Woman at a Window, a painting of a girl with neat dark hair and a steady gaze, contained a secret.

Hidden under layers of varnish and paint was the original painting of the same woman, only this time she has a suggestive sideways glance and was dressed in a more revealing bodice.

The painting is featured in a new exhibition, Close Examination: Fakes, Mistakes & Discoveries, which reveals the stories behind more than 40 paintings....

Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)