Scientists at Ghent University had bad news for the Ghent couple that thought they may have uncovered a painting by the Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh on their wall during renovations. Analysis of the paint used in the work allowed Prof Peter Vandenabeele to conclude that the portrait found behind plaster and insulation was no self-portrait by Van Gogh.
Scientists at Ghent University examined the paint used in the work found at a house in the Rabot neighbourhood of the East Flemish capital. Unfortunately the paint was too modern for the work to be a real Van Gogh.
“Pigments in the paint date from after 1920. Van Gogh died in 1890. He just couldn’t have painted it,” said Prof Vandenabeele. “I too wish it could have been the case, but science doesn’t lie”.
“We measured the colours with a spectrometer. Some parts may have been overpainted, but the younger greenish-blue pigment appears throughout the work” says researcher Eva Vermeersch.
Hannes Vercamer, who found the work in his home is disappointed, but relieved at the same time: “If it had been a real Van Gogh it would have turned our world upside down. We would have had to sell our home so it could become a museum. Unfortunately, the Porsche and the horse that the kids wanted will not materialise”.
