A Masterpiece Changed by Time

The iconic war painting Gassed shows blinded soldiers in a haunting line. Surprisingly, a 2023 restoration revealed that decades of layers had drastically hidden the artist's original color choices.

Painted in 1919, this massive canvas captured the grim reality of mustard gas attacks during the First World War. While many assumed the muted tones were intentional, recent cleaning uncovered vibrant hues and lighting effects that Sargent originally intended. These changes completely refreshed our historical perspective on how he saw the battlefield. It serves as a reminder that even timeless masterpieces can hold hidden secrets waiting to be recovered.