Instead, it found its way into the collection of theCarnegie Museum of Artin Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
A sticker on the back frame alleges the painter was court artist Bronzino.
An x-ray scan confirmed that beneath the face was another one, with larger features and much more character.
The painting before (left) and after (right) the removal of the Victorian overpainting and careful restoration of the original. (Photo: screenshot of video fromCarnegie Museum of Art)
The 16th-century painting had clearly undergone a transformation in the 19th century.
Baxter removed the old varnish covering the painting and slowly removed the 19th-century paint as well.
Beneath it is the remarkable face of Isabella de Medici, daughter of Cosimo I and Eleanor of Toledo.
While not certain, the work was likely done byAlessandro Allori, who trained under Bronzino.
Her work is engaging, and she talks to the painting pleasantly as she restores its glory.
These restorations follow certain ethical rules of transparency.
Rich and wild, she took lovers and spent, spent, spent.
She was well-educated and witty, but her intrigues may have contributed to her untimely death.
As baxter describes her life, a bad end, but a good story.
