Hidden portrait found under Titian masterpiece in Cyprus
Ammon News - Researchers in Cyprus have discovered a hidden portrait that lay undetected for centuries beneath a 1570 oil painting by Renaissance master Titian, a rendering of which is now on display in the city of Limassol.
The newly discovered work shows a unidentified man with a thin moustache, quill in hand, standing next to a stack of papers or books - a prosaic image compared to the scene of Jesus Christ, bound and wearing a crown of thorns, that Titian later painted over it.
The painting "holds a secret, and the secret is that there is, unknown until now, a painting underneath," said Professor Nikolas Bakirtzis, who leads a team at the Cyprus Institute (CyI), a non-profit educational body.
The finished artwork, called Ecce Homo - meaning "Behold, The Man" in English - shows Jesus standing next to Pontius Pilate, who presided over the last stages of Jesus' trial before he was crucified.
The painting was being prepared for conservation when researchers put it under a microscope and noticed different pigments through the craquelure, or pattern of fine cracks that form on the surface of old paintings.
"It was like uncovering a puzzle," said Bakirtzis.
Using a combination of imaging and non-invasive analytical techniques, researchers at the Andreas Pittas Art Characterization Laboratories (APAC) at CyI pieced together the full, buried portrait.
Based on the X-ray visuals, experts then created an oil painting of the man.
"It is clearly the portrait of a banker, a lawyer, some professional man in his workspace," said Bakirtzis, an art and architectural historian who is the director at APAC.
An exhibit of Titian's painting as well as a rendering of the hidden portrait opened in Limassol in late January and runs until March 10.
Born Tiziano Vecellio in 1488, Titian, together with his studio in Venice, produced hundreds of paintings until his death in 1576. Reuters
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ammon
4 days ago
- Ammon
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command raises their Force Protection Condition
Ammon News - All installations across U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility have raised their Force Protection Condition (FPCON) level from Alpha to Bravo as a precautionary measure. In a post on X platform, the command said that this adjustment is part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our personnel, families, and mission capabilities. "While there is no specific threat to the region at this time, this change reflects a general increase in vigilance in alignment with Department of Defense security protocols. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as necessary," it added. — U.S. Forces Korea (@USForcesKorea) June 17, 2025
Ammon
5 days ago
- Ammon
Rare Gandhi oil portrait goes up for auction
Ammon News - A rare oil painting of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, believed to have been damaged by a Hindu nationalist activist, is to be auctioned in July. Gandhi, one of the most influential figures in India's history who led a non-violent movement against British rule and inspired similar resistance campaigns across the world, is the subject of tens of thousands of artworks, books and films. But a 1931 painting by British-American artist Clare Leighton is believed to be the only oil portrait he sat for, according to the painter's family who have had the painting since it was created. AFP
Jordan News
6 days ago
- Jordan News
Record Number of Students Registered for 2025 Tawjihi Exams, Ministry of Education Says - Jordan News
Record Number of Students Registered for 2025 Tawjihi Exams, Ministry of Education Says Dr. Mohammad Shehada, Director of Examinations and Assessments at the Ministry of Education, announced that the ministry has completed all preparations for the 2025 General Secondary Education Certificate Examination (Tawjihi). اضافة اعلان In a radio statement, Dr. Shehada confirmed that the first exam session for Grade 12 students (Class of 2007) will begin on Thursday and continue until July 10. A record-breaking 209,871 students are registered for the exam this year—the highest number in the history of Tawjihi exams. This includes: 147,461 regular school students 62,410 private study students (new, re-takers, or those seeking to improve their scores) Exam Logistics: 826 examination centers across all educational directorates 1,983 exam halls 38 correction centers for subjects with essay sections Special arrangements include: 162 examinees from correctional and juvenile centers, distributed over 15 halls 658 students with disabilities 27 students taking the exam from the King Hussein Cancer Center Personnel and Oversight: Over 28,000 Ministry staff involved in proctoring and supervision Around 9,000 graders will be responsible for marking Arabic, English, and Mathematics exams Institutional Cooperation: The Ministry is working in full coordination with the Ministry of Interior, particularly the Public Security Directorate, as well as the Ministry of Health, Special Communications Authority, Ministry of Digital Economy, and various media outlets. Exam Format: All exams will be multiple choice, except for: Arabic English Mathematics These three will include essay components making up 40–50% of the total mark. The first exam on Thursday will be Islamic Education, taken by 163,629 students, chosen to start the exam period with a familiar and student-friendly subject to ease exam anxiety. Dr. Shehada concluded that the ministry needs 20 to 30 days after the last exam to announce the official results.
