Synchrotron scientists are the new art detectives

Scientists have revealed the second painting beneath the NGV's Degas, with a technique that could change the future of art investigation.
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The hidden portrait of Emma Dobigny by Edgar Degas recently revealed by Australian scientists; Collection National Gallery of Victoria

The National Gallery of Victoria bought Edgar Degas’s Portrait de femme (Portrait of a Woman (c 1876-80) from a Parisan dealer in 1937 for the then hefty sum of £2275.

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Gina Fairley is ArtsHub's National Visual Arts Editor. For a decade she worked as a freelance writer and curator across Southeast Asia and was previously the Regional Contributing Editor for Hong Kong based magazines Asian Art News and World Sculpture News. Prior to writing she worked as an arts manager in America and Australia for 14 years, including the regional gallery, biennale and commercial sectors. She is based in Mittagong, regional NSW. Twitter: @ginafairley Instagram: fairleygina