The portrait of the XVII century was cleaned of a layer of varnish, and the result is stunning

Paintings are covered with a protective layer to protect them from wear and other external factors, but because of this, bright colors fade over time. The portrait of an unknown woman in 1618 was covered with a thick layer of varnish two hundred years ago. The original colors have faded over several centuries, and the painting has acquired a characteristic yellowish hue.

The art critic and presenter of the BBC One show Fake or Fortune, Philip Mould, showed what would happen if this layer was peeled off. Mould shared a video on Twitter where he gently removes the yellowed varnish, revealing the real colors of the portrait, and the difference is, of course, stunning.

There is little information about the portrait "Woman in Red".

It is known that it was written during the time of King James I of England and that the woman was 36 years old. Two centuries after the portrait was painted, it was varnished to protect it from external influences.

"The portrait was kept in a private collection in England. We started the restoration process after numerous tests of the varnish on the oil surface of the oak panel. We made a mixture of gel and solvent to remove the varnish, but not to damage the oil paints of the portrait itself."