Art conservators with the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS) have discovered a previously unknown self-portrait of Vincent van Gogh on the back of another of the artist’s works.
The presumed self-portrait, depicting a bearded man in a brimmed hat and neckerchief, was revealed during an X-ray on Van Gogh’s 1885 work Head of a Peasant Woman, which was undergoing conservation works ahead of the upcoming ‘A Taste for Impressionism’ exhibition running from 30 July – 13 November at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh.
The X-ray image will now form an integral part of the exhibition, with visitors able to view the image via a purpose-built lightbox at the centre of the display.
The self-portrait is covered by layers of glue and cardboard CREDIT: NATIONAL GALLERIES OF SCOTLAND
The portrait was found on the back of the canvas, as Van Gogh was known to reuse canvases to save money, and had been covered by glue and cardboard, which experts from the NGS believe were applied prior to an exhibition in the early 20th century.
The work will have to undergo extensive and delicate conservation to uncover the portrait. However, NSG conservators believe that it may be possible to do so without damaging the original painting, as records from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands, show that cardboard was removed to reveal the hidden self-portraits from three paintings from the artist’s Nuenen period by Dutch restorer Jan Cornelis Traas in the 1920s.
“Moments like this are incredibly rare,” said Professor Frances Fowle, senior curator of French Art at the National Galleries of Scotland.
“What an incredible gift for Scotland, and one that will forever be in the care of the National Galleries.
“We’re very excited to share this thrilling discovery in our big summer exhibition A Taste for Impressionism, where the X-ray image of the self-portrait will be on view for all to see.”
