When the Renaissance artist painted his famous Ecce Homo picture around 1570, he hid something surprisingly under it, which was only now noticed by scientists. During restoration work, the researchers noticed that under the masterpiece of Titian, a previously unnoticed portrait of an unknown businessman, standing at the table, was hidden, writes Smithsonian Magazine.

Re -use of canvases is a practice that is not a rarity in the visual arts. Scientists already know that Titian re -used canvases and sometimes wrote on top of partially completed works, but this case, according to scientists, is unique. The fact is that the artist wrote a new work on top of the finished work.

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The restoration was carried out by experts from the Cyprus Institute, who made the opening. When they investigated a masterpiece under a microscope, scientists noticed strange colors, the paintings, which are coming through the craquel - a network of small cracks that appears on oil painting over many years.

A preliminary X -ray was taken in the Institute Laboratory on the description of works of art Andreas Pittas and showed " Further, scientists used advanced visualization methods to identify a full portrait written in an Ecce Homo picture..

According to the director of the laboratory of Nicholas Bakirzis, this discovery was like " As soon as scientists began to understand that there was another whole work under the picture, they were extremely excited. Further, scientists began to study layers using a number of visualization methods, and then simultaneously physical, chemical and analytical methods that allowed the command to look under the surface. The authors of the study also note that they hoped to better understand Titian's “art strategies” and how the Podmalevok could influence Ecce homo.

Researchers note that a portrait found under the picture is a portrait of a standing man. Alas, the team could not determine who this person is, but scientists believe that he is not one of the famous patrons, friends or clients of Titian.

At the same time, scientists note that a man depicted on the portrait looks like a " A man stands in the office in front of the table and with one hand touches the book or pile of papers, and the other holds the feather. It is assumed that the portrait depicts a banker or lawyer who is a professional in his field.

It is curious that Titian turned the portrait of a man before drawing over him. Scientists believe that the artist also integrated the elements of the first portrait in Ecce Homo.

According to Bakircis, he and his colleagues found that parts of the facial features, for example, part of his chin line, follow the picturesque execution of the ropes connecting the hands of Christ. There are other details in the background space and a room presented on the portrait, which also facilitate the drawing of the composition of Ecce homo.

Scientists also used x -rays to recreate a hidden portrait. The hidden picture is now exhibited next to Ecce Homo in the municipal center of art in Limassol, near the southern coast of the island state.

Previously, Focus wrote that on Mona Lisa, Da Vinci found hidden images of animals.