Uncovered: X-ray reveals original Maclise lost beneath the surface

Des O’Sullivan on the discovery of a portrait by Cork’s Daniel Maclise. An x-ray of the painting revealed 70% of it’s surface to be unoriginal.

An important original portrait of Catherine Dickens, wife of the writer Charles Dickens, by Cork-born artist Daniel Maclise, has been discovered hidden beneath what had been thought to be the original work.

A portrait of Catherine had been treasured by the Charles Dicken’s Museum at Doughty St, in London for 20 years. Doubts about its authenticity emerged during the past year.