A X-ray self portrait of Vincent Van Gogh is believed to have been found on the back of the Dutch artist's painting, 'Head of a Peasant Woman'. PA Media
A X-ray self portrait of Vincent Van Gogh is believed to have been found on the back of the Dutch artist's painting, 'Head of a Peasant Woman'. PA Media
A X-ray self portrait of Vincent Van Gogh is believed to have been found on the back of the Dutch artist's painting, 'Head of a Peasant Woman'. PA Media
A X-ray self portrait of Vincent Van Gogh is believed to have been found on the back of the Dutch artist's painting, 'Head of a Peasant Woman'. PA Media

X-ray reveals hidden Van Gogh self-portrait that was previously unknown


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A painting that is "most certainly" a previously unknown self-portrait of Vincent Van Gogh has been discovered by the National Galleries of Scotland.

The extraordinary find is believed to be a first for a UK institution and was discovered by an X-ray taken of Van Gogh's Head of a Peasant Woman (1885) ahead of the forthcoming exhibition A Taste for Impressionism at the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh.

Hidden from view for over a century, the portrait was found on the back of the canvas with Head of a Peasant Woman, covered by layers of glue and cardboard that are believed to have been applied ahead of an exhibition in the early 20th Century.

'Head of a Peasant Woman' (1885), by Vincent Van Gogh. PA Media
'Head of a Peasant Woman' (1885), by Vincent Van Gogh. PA Media

Van Gogh was known for reusing canvas to save money by turning it round and working on the opposite side.

The portrait shows a bearded sitter in a brimmed hat with a neckerchief loosely tied at the throat. His left ear, which he famously cut off in 1888, is clearly visible.

It is thought to be from his early work and his first exploration of self-portraits, which he later became known for.

Viewers will be able to see the sketch as an X-ray image through a specially crafted lightbox.

While it may be possible to separate the paintings, the process of removing the glue and cardboard will require delicate conservation work. Research is ongoing as to how that can be done without harming Head of a Peasant Woman.

The X-ray Vincent Van Gogh portrait that shows a bearded sitter in a brimmed hat with a neckerchief loosely tied at the throat, with his left ear on show. PA Media
The X-ray Vincent Van Gogh portrait that shows a bearded sitter in a brimmed hat with a neckerchief loosely tied at the throat, with his left ear on show. PA Media

The discovery has been described as "thrilling" by Professor Frances Fowle, senior curator of French art at the National Galleries of Scotland. She said: "Moments like this are incredibly rare.

"We have discovered an unknown work by Vincent Van Gogh, one of the most important and popular artists in the world.

"What an incredible gift for Scotland, and one that will forever be in the care of the National Galleries. We are very excited to share this thrilling discovery in our big summer exhibition A Taste for Impressionism, where the x-ray image of the self-portrait will be on view for all to see."

Lesley Stevenson, senior paintings conservator at the National Galleries said they are "thrilled to bits" to have discovered the portrait.

"When we saw the X-ray for the first time of course we were hugely excited," she said.

Senior curator Frances Fowle stands with 'Head of a Peasant Woman', which will feature in coming exhibition A Taste for Impressionism at the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh. PA Media
Senior curator Frances Fowle stands with 'Head of a Peasant Woman', which will feature in coming exhibition A Taste for Impressionism at the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh. PA Media

"This is a significant discovery because it adds to what we already know about Van Gogh's life.

"There is lots to think about with regards to the next steps, but for us it is another little nugget to get us a little bit closer to an incredible artist.

"Knowing that it's there in a painting that's in the National Galleries of Scotland in a collection that belongs to the people of Scotland is incredibly important and significant.

"Hopefully it will encourage people to come along and have a look."

Art enthusiasts will be able to view the portrait as part of the exhibition which will take place between July 30 and November 13.

Eight stolen artworks that are still missing including Monet, Van Gogh and Picasso — in pictures

  • Still Life: Vase with Twelve Sunflowers, Vincent van Gogh, August 1888. Neue Pinakothek, Munich, Germany,
    Still Life: Vase with Twelve Sunflowers, Vincent van Gogh, August 1888. Neue Pinakothek, Munich, Germany,
  • Sunflowers, 1889, Vincent van Gogh, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)
    Sunflowers, 1889, Vincent van Gogh, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)
  • Sunflowers, 1888/89 by Vincent Willem van Gogh (1853 - 1890) is exhibited in The Philadelphia Museum of Art, USA.
    Sunflowers, 1888/89 by Vincent Willem van Gogh (1853 - 1890) is exhibited in The Philadelphia Museum of Art, USA.
  • Sunflowers, Vincent van Gogh, 1888 is now exhibited at The National Gallery in London.
    Sunflowers, Vincent van Gogh, 1888 is now exhibited at The National Gallery in London.
  • 'Poppy Flowers' by Vincent van Gogh. The 1887 painting was stolen from the Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Museum, Cairo, in August, 2010. Photo: Commons
    'Poppy Flowers' by Vincent van Gogh. The 1887 painting was stolen from the Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Museum, Cairo, in August, 2010. Photo: Commons
  • 'Le Pigeon aux Petits Pois' by Pablo Picasso. The painting was stolen in May, 2010, from the Musee d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. Photo: Commons
    'Le Pigeon aux Petits Pois' by Pablo Picasso. The painting was stolen in May, 2010, from the Musee d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. Photo: Commons
  • 'View of Auvers-sur-Oise' by Cezanne. On New Year’s Eve 1999, the artwork was stolen from the Ashmolean Museum at University of Oxford in a theft UK police believe was stolen-to-order. Photo: Commons
    'View of Auvers-sur-Oise' by Cezanne. On New Year’s Eve 1999, the artwork was stolen from the Ashmolean Museum at University of Oxford in a theft UK police believe was stolen-to-order. Photo: Commons
  • 'Portrait of a Young Man' by Raphael. The $100 million artwork was looted by the Nazis when they invaded Poland in 1939. It was last seen in 1945, but then disappeared. Photo: Commons
    'Portrait of a Young Man' by Raphael. The $100 million artwork was looted by the Nazis when they invaded Poland in 1939. It was last seen in 1945, but then disappeared. Photo: Commons
  • 'The Storm on the Sea of Galilee' by Rembrandt. The piece was one of 13 works stolen from a museum in Boston, US, in a $500 million heist. Photo: Commons
    'The Storm on the Sea of Galilee' by Rembrandt. The piece was one of 13 works stolen from a museum in Boston, US, in a $500 million heist. Photo: Commons
  • 'Nativity with St Francis and St Lawrence' by Caravaggio. This $20 million work was stolen from a church in Sicily, with a mafia informant claiming a mob boss used it as a floor mat. Photo: Commons
    'Nativity with St Francis and St Lawrence' by Caravaggio. This $20 million work was stolen from a church in Sicily, with a mafia informant claiming a mob boss used it as a floor mat. Photo: Commons
  • 'Francis Bacon' by Lucian Freud. The artwork was stolen from a Berlin gallery in a short half hour window during an exhibition. EPA
    'Francis Bacon' by Lucian Freud. The artwork was stolen from a Berlin gallery in a short half hour window during an exhibition. EPA
  • 'Charing Cross Bridge, London' by Claude Monet. After it was stolen from a Rotterdam museum, the mother of one of the alleged thieves claimed she burned the artwork in her fireplace to protect her son. Photo: Commons
    'Charing Cross Bridge, London' by Claude Monet. After it was stolen from a Rotterdam museum, the mother of one of the alleged thieves claimed she burned the artwork in her fireplace to protect her son. Photo: Commons
Zidane's managerial achievements

La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017

SERIE A FIXTURES

Saturday Benevento v Atalanta (2pm), Genoa v Bologna (5pm), AC Milan v Torino (7.45pm)

Sunday Roma v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Udinese v Napoli, Hellas Verona v Crotone, Parma v Lazio (2pm), Fiorentina v Cagliari (9pm), Juventus v Sassuolo (11.45pm)

Monday Spezia v Sampdoria (11.45pm)

MATCH INFO

English Premiership semi-finals

Saracens 57
Wasps 33

Exeter Chiefs 36
Newcastle Falcons 5

SPEC SHEET

Display: 6.8" edge quad-HD  dynamic Amoled 2X, Infinity-O, 3088 x 1440, 500ppi, HDR10 , 120Hz

Processor: 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/Exynos 2200, 8-core

Memory: 8/12GB RAM

Storage: 128/256/512GB/1TB

Platform: Android 12

Main camera: quad 12MP ultra-wide f/2.2, 108MP wide f/1.8, 10MP telephoto f/4.9, 10MP telephoto 2.4; Space Zoom up to 100x, auto HDR, expert RAW

Video: 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, full-HD@60fps, HD@30fps, super slo-mo@960fps

Front camera: 40MP f/2.2

Battery: 5000mAh, fast wireless charging 2.0 Wireless PowerShare

Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC

I/O: USB-C

SIM: single nano, or nano and SIM, nano and nano, eSIM/nano and nano

Colours: burgundy, green, phantom black, phantom white, graphite, sky blue, red

Price: Dh4,699 for 128GB, Dh5,099 for 256GB, Dh5,499 for 512GB; 1TB unavailable in the UAE

CRICKET%20WORLD%20CUP%20QUALIFIER%2C%20ZIMBABWE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20fixtures%20%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMonday%2C%20June%2019%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ESri%20Lanka%20v%20UAE%2C%20Queen%E2%80%99s%20Sports%20Club%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWednesday%2C%20June%2021%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EOman%20v%20UAE%2C%20Bulawayo%20Athletic%20Club%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFriday%2C%20June%2023%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EScotland%20v%20UAE%2C%20Bulawayo%20Athletic%20Club%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETuesday%2C%20June%2027%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIreland%20v%20UAE%2C%20Bulawayo%20Athletic%20Club%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULTS

Time; race; prize; distance

4pm: Maiden; (D) Dh150,000; 1,200m
Winner: General Line, Xavier Ziani (jockey), Omar Daraj (trainer)

4.35pm: Maiden (T); Dh150,000; 1,600m
Winner: Travis County, Adrie de Vries, Ismail Mohammed

5.10pm: Handicap (D); Dh175,000; 1,200m
Winner: Scrutineer, Tadhg O’Shea, Ali Rashid Al Raihe

5.45pm: Maiden (D); Dh150,000; 1,600m
Winner: Yulong Warrior, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

6.20pm: Maiden (D); Dh150,000; 1,600m
Winner: Ejaaby, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson

6.55pm: Handicap (D); Dh160,000; 1,600m
Winner: Storyboard, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

7.30pm: Handicap (D); Dh150,000; 2,200m
Winner: Grand Dauphin, Gerald Mosse, Ahmed Al Shemaili

8.05pm: Handicap (T); Dh190,000; 1,800m
Winner: Good Trip, Tadhg O’Shea, Ali Rashid Al Raihe

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Tabby%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%20August%202019%3B%20platform%20went%20live%20in%20February%202020%3Cbr%3EFounder%2FCEO%3A%20Hosam%20Arab%2C%20co-founder%3A%20Daniil%20Barkalov%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Payments%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%2040-50%20employees%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Arbor%20Ventures%2C%20Mubadala%20Capital%2C%20Wamda%20Capital%2C%20STV%2C%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20JIMCO%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Outliers%20VC%2C%20MSA%20Capital%2C%20HOF%20and%20AB%20Accelerator.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Audi R8 V10 RWS

Price: base / as tested: From Dh632,225

Engine: 5.2-litre V10

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 540hp @ 8,250rpm

Torque: 540Nm @ 6,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 12.4L / 100km

Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.

'Peninsula'

Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra

Director: ​Yeon Sang-ho

Rating: 2/5

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

'Worse than a prison sentence'

Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.

“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.

“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.

“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.

“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.

“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Updated: July 14, 2022, 4:32 AM