Gaby
Researchers at the Cyprus Institute (CyI) have uncovered a hidden male portrait that has been concealed for centuries beneath the famous painting by Titian, Ecce Homo (“Behold the Man”) from 1570.
This artwork depicts Jesus Christ before his crucifixion alongside Pontius Pilate. While preparing the painting for restoration, experts placed it under a microscope and suddenly noticed other pigments peeking through the craquelure—a pattern of tiny cracks that forms on the surface of old paintings.
Using advanced visualization techniques and non-invasive analysis, researchers from the Andreas Pittas Art Characterization Laboratory (APAC) at CyI pieced together the portrait that had been hidden beneath layers of paint for centuries. “It was like solving a puzzle,” said Professor Nicholas Bakirtzis, who led the team.
What Did the Master’s Painting Conceal?
In contrast to the tragedy of Christ, the subject of the hidden work is more mundane. In the portrait recreated by the experts, a man with thin mustaches and a feather in hand stands next to a stack of books or papers, as reported by the Independent.
“This is clearly a portrait of a banker, a lawyer, some kind of professional at work,” suggested Professor Bakirtzis. According to him, the identity of the person in the hidden portrait remains a mystery, adding another layer of intrigue to this remarkable discovery. Further research, experts hope, will shed new light on this almost detective-like story.
The recreated painting hidden beneath Titian’s “Ecce Homo”
Scientists know that Titian often reused canvases from partially completed works. However, in this case, the artist painted Ecce Homo over a fully finished portrait.
Both Titian’s paintings and the reproduction of the hidden portrait are currently on display in Limassol.
