The Hidden Secrets Beneath Paintings

A pentimento is an accidental ghost image hidden under an old painting. It reveals a painter’s original mistake or a change of heart, permanently trapped beneath layers of oil.

When artists painted over their initial drafts, the new layers often turned transparent over time as they aged. This allows modern art historians to see what the artist was doing before their final composition. It provides a fascinating look into the creative process and the artist's struggle to get things right. Sometimes, it even reveals that a painting is hiding an entirely different subject underneath.