Medieval fresco on display for the first time in over 150 years

[Fenris]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/3370279.stm



The 'Coventry Doom' was painted inside the city's Holy Trinity Church by an unknown artist in about 1430.

The work, once thought to have been destroyed, has been returned to former glory after 10 years of restoration.

<SNIP>

It was whitewashed over in the 1560s at the Reformation and uncovered by the Victorians, who applied a varnish that within 20 years had darkened the artwork so badly that it was assumed to be lost forever.

****************

How Victorian is that? Rediscover a centuries-old fresco and what do you do? Varnish it!

[judge_smales]

1. Pretty common practice at the time

they thought it would help it to last longer by keeping the air away from the pigments.

[Fenris]

2. I know, it's just funny how wrong they were

But, the fresco survives.