Rendering 1. (Art)

   The article «Nearly 400-year-old secret painting in Rembrandt masterpiece revealed» by Megan Gannon was published on the website Foxnews.com on January 28, 2013. This article reports about a hidden portrait revealing in the masterpiece, "Old Man in Military Costume" by Dutch painter Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn.

   It was revealed that researchers had previously probed the painting with conventional methods, but could not see the behind the top coat, largely because Rembrandt used the same chemical composition for the underpainting and the final version. Speaking about studies of Rambrandt's masterpiece, it necessary to point out that today researchers use new and more sophisticated X-ray techniques named «macro X-ray fluorescence» to get to see who is depicted in the secret image. Giving appraisal of this process the author notices that compared to other techniques, the X-ray investigation is currently the best method to look underneath the original painting.

   Speaking of the hidden portrait, it's interesting to note that it was created by museum intern Andrea Sartorius, who used paints with the same chemical composition as those used by the Dutch master. Sartorius painted one portrait on the canvas and then an imitation of "Old Man in Military Costume" on top.  

   In conclusion the author assumes that the results of aforementioned studies will enable connoisseurs to determine the best possible approach to employ in upcoming study of the real Rembrandt painting. As for me I agree with the reporter but I believe that such an interesting case with the hidden portrait like this will become a new step in the investigation of artworks.