The Hermitage painting "Young man with a lute (the lute player") returned to the St. Petersburg Museum after two years of restoration and cleaning

In 1808, this painting was auctioned in Paris, but even before the auction it was bought for the Hermitage by order of Alexander I. First, "the lute player" was exhibited as "Lotniska": the painting depicts a young man, has understood not at once.

in addition, more than 200 years, Russian viewers saw, in fact, distorted. Even before the picture came to the Hermitage, it was twice newer unknown restorers — on the level of technology and morals of the eighteenth century. It has affected a number of parts: hair of the lute-player, shadows, etc. Traces of failed renovations were hidden by several layers of varnish that has darkened and almost hid the image colors. Time, too, did their job: five centuries, it has faded and worn off paint in the light areas. In a report of TV channel "Culture" was told that the most difficult for restorers to restore the image of the strings and the text of the notes on the table. Notes — also with meaning. As Wikipedia tells us, is the bass line of the Madrigal Jacob Arcadelt "You know I love you."

Now the king's gift all right, and the picture will appear nearly the same as it saw the artist 422 years ago. Visitors will be able to see the only in the Russian museums the work of Caravaggio after December 9, 2017.

Sources: tvkultura.ru, ru.wikipedia.org, hermitagemuseum.org