Ghostly Image of Scottish Queen Found Beneath Painting
While using x-rays to study the painter's techniques, one researcher stumbled upon the hidden sketch.
Lurking behind an unassuming 16th century painting is one of the U.K.'s most controversial monarchs—Mary, Queen of Scots.
While using X-rays to photograph a centuries-old painting of Scottish nobleman Sir John Maitland, art conservator Caroline Rae from the Courtald Institute of Art in London noticed the ghostly sketch of a woman beneath the top level of pigment.
The woman can be seen wearing a dress and hat and appears to be looking off to the left. Tracing the woman's outline, Rae compared it to depictions of Mary made during this time period. She found it bore a strong resemblance to other paintings made of the queen.
The sketch also showed the woman's hands at her waist "as if holding a pendant," said
