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Diego Velazquez portrait confirmed as authentic

A 17th Century portrait by Spanish painter Diego Velazquez is back on show at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art years after it was wrongly identified as not being a genuine work.

The Met downgraded the painting of King Philip IV in 1973, determining it was likely done by an assistant or follower studying under the artist.

But experts reversed the decision after a year's worth of restoration.

The portrait can now be seen in the European Paintings galleries.

It is one of only just over 100 known works by Velazquez, who was the king's leading court artist and painted him throughout his reign.

The painting, which had been on display since 1914, had not been cleaned and restored since 1911 and scholars debated for years whether it was genuine.

It was among 300 disputed works all downgraded by the Met 37 years ago, despite the museum owning the artist's signed receipt of payment from the king....
Read entire article at BBC News