Sunday, 1 November 2020

A Restored Holbein in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

A portrait of an Unknown Lady Age 17 by Hans Holbein (or a follower in his workshop) in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. 

The sitter has been called Queen Katheryn Howard and also Mary Howard, Dowager Duchess of Richmond, though there is no proof to support her identity as being either of these two young women. 

The description on the Metropolitan Museum's website says that the picture has been 'extensively restored', and that 'retouching of the mouth may contribute to the exaggerated pout'. 

This is evident in the second image shown here, which has the sitter without her smile, as she originally was. 

Update (Nov. 20): As some visitors to this post have pointed out, this is rather a reinterpretation of the work, than a 'restoration'. I have to say, they are quite correct.

 

After restoration

 


 Before restoration

 

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