The product has been hidden under a portrait of another author. Why work by Anthony Van Dyck was painted over - remains a mystery. Most likely, the reason was the religious subtext of the portrait

Anthony Van Dyck
Queen Henrietta Maria in the image of St. Catherine
Source: artdaily.com

in Britain found a portrait of Queen Henrietta Maria (1609 - 1669) painted by Anthony van Dyck. The great Dutch artist, who was court painter to British monarchs depicted husband Charles I in the form of the Catholic St. Catherine of Alexandria. This portrait has so far been known only in the later and less successful copies of other authors.

entirely original portrait of small size (76 x 64) found art Philip Mauld a different portrait of the Queen, more size, highly retouched in the XVIII century. To access the original work of Van Dyck XVII century, needed 1,000 hours of restoration work and about 500 scalpels. For whatever reason, the work of Van Dyck's been painted over - remains a mystery. Based on the remaining pencil marks on the portrait, the work was not finished. Experts suggest that this was the last portrait of Queen Henrietta Maria van Dyck hand written on the eve of the English Revolution and the flight of a Catholic queen back to France. Evidently decided the fate of the portrait image of the Catholic St. Catherine. Henrietta Maria, who tried to draw Anglican Charles in their faith, to associate themselves with this holy, that could not possibly be to the taste of the nobility of England.

Prepared Maria Onuchina, AI

Sources : artdaily.com , artinvestment.ru