A painting that is “certainly” a previously unknown self-portrait of Vincent van Gogh has been discovered by the National Galleries of Scotland.
The extraordinary find is considered a first for a British institution and was discovered by an X-ray of Van Gogh’s Head of a Peasant Woman (1885) ahead of the upcoming exhibition A Taste for Impressionism at the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh.
Hidden from view for over a century, the portrait was found on the back of the canvas depicting the head of a peasant woman, covered in layers of glue and cardboard believed to have been applied prior to an early 20th-century exhibition .
Van Gogh was known for reusing canvas to save money, turning it over and working on the other side.
The portrait shows a bearded nanny wearing a brimmed hat and a neckerchief loosely tied at the throat. His left ear, which he famously cut off in 1888, is clearly visible.
It is thought to come from his early work and his first exploration of self-portraits, for which he later became known.
Viewers can see the sketch as an X-ray through a specially crafted light box.
While it is possible to separate the paintings, removing glue and cardboard requires delicate conservation work. It is being investigated how this can be done without harming the head of a farmer’s wife.
Professor Frances Fowle, senior curator of French art at the National Galleries of Scotland, said: “Moments like these are incredibly rare.
“We have discovered an unknown work by Vincent van Gogh, one of the most important and popular artists in the world.
“What an incredible gift to Scotland, and one that will forever be in the care of the National Galleries. We are very excited to share this exciting discovery in our major summer exhibition A Taste for Impressionism, where the X-ray image of the self-portrait will be on display for all to see.”
Lesley Stevenson, senior curator of paintings at the National Galleries, said the organization is “pleased” to have discovered the portrait.
“Obviously, when we first saw the X-ray, we were extremely excited,” she said.
“This is an important discovery because it adds to what we already know about Van Gogh’s life.
“There’s a lot to think about regarding the next steps, but for us it’s just another little push to bring us a little bit closer to an incredible artist.
“Knowing that it is present in a painting in the National Galleries of Scotland in a collection belonging to the people of Scotland is incredibly important and important.
“Hopefully it encourages people to come take a look.”
Art lovers can view the portrait as part of the exhibition, which will take place between July 30 and November 13.