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Restoration isn't simply cleaning an old painting until it looks new.
Conservators first try to distinguish the original artwork from later additions, repairs, and overpaint.
Scientific imaging can reveal areas that were altered after the artist finished the work.
X-rays, infrared imaging, and other techniques can expose information hidden beneath the visible surface.
This helps specialists decide which areas should be preserved, removed, or carefully retouched.
The goal is generally not to repaint the entire artwork as if it were new.
A restored painting can therefore preserve both the artist's original work and evidence of its long history.
© Getty Conservation Institute