Hidden demon face lurking in 1789 painting uncovered by restorers
CBSN
A hidden face recently uncovered in a 1789 Joshua Reynolds painting proves the devil is in the details. In "The Death of Cardinal Beaufort," Reynolds included a demon-like face lurking behind the dying cardinal. But the controversial and chilling demon appeared to fade out of the painting over the years, as multiple conservationists worked on it. Now, the painting has been restored to include the original fiend.
The National Trust, which conserves historic landmarks in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, recently conserved four pieces by Reynolds to mark what would have been the English painter's 300th birthday, the Trust said in a news release.
"The Death of Cardinal Beaufort" depicts a scene from Shakespeare's Henry VI Part 2, as the king witnesses the death of Cardinal Beaufort, his great-uncle.
