How we uncovered the secrets of the Gallery’s oldest painting | National Gallery

We found crabs and dragon scales that had been hidden for centuries.

🎨 Find out more about painting

🎨 Find out more about Margarito d'Arezzo

00:00-01:00 Introduction
01:01-02:16 The frame of the picture
02:17-05:24 What is the meaning of the picture?
05:25-08:06 Conservation studio
08:07-08:54 Introduction to Scientific department
08:55-13:36 Scientific scans reveal secrets
13:37-16:03 The picture is hung in the Gallery

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The National Gallery houses the national collection of paintings in the Western European tradition from the 13th to the 19th centuries. The museum is free of charge and open 361 days per year, daily between 10.00 am - 6.00 pm and on Fridays between 10.00 am - 9.00 pm.
Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN

[AleksandraLapaeva]

It would be cool to see the original paiting restored digitally with all the original colors and elements that for various reasons are not visible now. I really enjoyed this video btw. Thank you!

[MrTorleon]

Absolutely fascinating and a joy to watch. As a retired medieval art historian, who worked, for the most part on the conservation of illuminated manuscripts, I was able to appreciated, in my time, the change from traditional conservation techniques to non invasive digital scanning, a technical advance - which, as this video shows, stunningly reveals so much more information that the passage of time tends to obscure.
Brilliant in every way, well produced, top shelf - perhaps more, possibly, in the future ?

[Kis-met]

I love the National Gallery series ....the talks and explanations are wonderful for people like me, who love art but have no technical knowledge of it . What a great way to enjoy all these beautiful pieces, even when I don't have the opportunity to visit The National Gallery. Thank you for all the hard work that goes into producing these videos.

[cestmarrant]

I so appreciate all the close-ups and animation elements of this video that highlighted what was being discussed.

[kostas]

Beautiful merge of byzantium and western art! I love the painstaking process it took to conserve such a beautiful piece of srt. Incredible the methods used to scan and discover the different kinds of paints and designs that can't longer be seen with our eyes. Beautiful indeed.

[MP-keym]

Thank you so much for this video. Please don’t ever stop producing them! The benefit to those of us who live (for example) on the west coast of Canada, are indebted to your team.

[nikelambooy]

I'd love to see a modern day reproduction of this, to give some idea of what it would have looked like when it was just painted! absolutely fascinating!

[SpringNotes]

So fascinating. It's wonderful with modern technology, and with open minded staff,
you're able to see the true intent of the artist.

[m.u.]

I always get goosebumps when i see these old beautiful masterpieces of art, which come from an era so long ago. Thank you for this video!

[rafa-qzdo]

It's always fascinating to look at old paintings such as this one. It's like a window to a completely different world.

[favouritemoon]

This was completely fascinating from start to finish. I know making videos like this might feel difficult [in all kinds of ways] and that making them takes all of you from other work, but please, please make more like this, because it was just brilliant viewing. My sincere thanks to *everyone* involved.

[joealtmaier]

Fascinating to see professionals at work. Quite interesting!
In addition I'm impressed by the artist's techniques - particularly in having elements of the scenes actually exceed the framing paint. The upper-left corner panel has part of what, a cave? exceeding the painted square it's 'intended' to be bound by. And even the 'mandala' that surrounds the main character exceeds not only her frame, but the entire painting! It extends past the blank border on the top to nearly the wooden frame.
In modern times artists discover the visual power of violating bounds like this. This artist knew about it, and used it effectively, hundreds of years ago.

[Beruthiel]

I love how science illuminates the art and the artist's skills and techniques. It's particularly wonderful when long hidden details are brought to life and we can appreciate the abilities and world view of the past. Thank you. 💞

[suzannedixon]

This was a delight. It's wonderful to be able to view it from Australia, so I endorse the appreciation from others who watched this from their countries around the globe.

[kittymervine]

Thank you, and each person is a delight. You can tell they enjoy their work and understand the importance.

[jamesallison]

I love these videos and the amazing young people who work there. Fascinating!

[suzannelacy]

I live in a Cultural Desert and find it so sad that in my Salad Days 💔 my life was enriched with access to the wonders of the World in London and Paris . Now ( is the winter of my discontent ) these treasures and those of Opera, Ballet, Art, Museums and being part of our diverse Multi.. Cultural environment are sorely missed . Thank you so very much for giving me a little glimpse into what I once had .

[sophitsa]

Brilliant video!

With my amateur knowledge, stylistically, the painting looks like what would happen if an Italian artist (maybe a Venetian) travelled to the late Byzantine Empire, which by then was largely run by Germanic kings, and had a go at had to go at presenting the Virgin Mary as a byzantine - Germanic queen

[casanovascrr]

I totally love this video, the details, the flow of the conversations... Thank you. Greetings from Puerto Rico.

[larsivarhordnes]

thank you for publishing this. It is fascinating how you are able to see new sides of these exquisite ancient pieces