Museum Unveils Painting Missing for Decades
Found in a private collection, the work needed two years of conservation before it could hang.
By Sanly Wire1 min read
A painting recorded as lost for more than sixty years went on public display this week after an extended conservation process, drawing long queues on its opening days.
The work surfaced in a private collection whose owner did not know its significance. Verification took longer than expected: the canvas had been relined and partly overpainted at some point, obscuring details that authentication depended on. Conservators removed the later additions over two years.
The museum has not disclosed the terms under which it acquired the work. It will remain on view for six months before entering the permanent collection.