Discovered the drawing of the Queen of Scotland after the 500-year-old painting

Conservationists suddenly discovered the image of the Queen of Scotland while researching a portrait from the 16th century.

According to Iflscience, the discovery was made by experts from the Scottish National Gallery and the Courtauld Art Institute in London taking X-ray pictures on Thirlestane's Sir John Maitland painting.

Sir John Maitland painting by Thirlestane castle painted by Dutch artist Adrian Vanson in 1589 (Photo: Iflscience).

The painting was completed by Dutch artist Adrian Vanson in 1589 and will be re-displayed at an exhibition at the Scottish National Gallery.

X-rays can pass through paint but are blocked by pigments containing heavy metals such as lead. And so the conservationist, Dr. Caroline Rae, while scanning the painting, noticed some white lines behind the portrait, revealing a ghost-like sketch of a woman.

Dr. Rae believes that drawing depicts Mary Stuart , or Mary, Queen of Scotland as she is known, based on the resemblance to the other paintings of the queen.

X-ray images show the figure of a woman behind.(Photo: Iflscience).

Mary, Queen of Scotland is a controversial figure. In 1567, her second husband, Lord Darnley, died at Kirk o 'Field in Edinburgh, not far from the Scottish National Museum. This scandal resulted in Mary being forced to flee, being held in England by cousin Elizabeth I. After she participated in a political campaign to regain her throne, she was eventually beheaded in 1587 for treason.

It seems that Vanson has decided to abandon his painting after the scandal to choose a less-than-speak character than Sir John Maitland.

The portrait of Mary Stuart painted by François Clouet, 1560. (Photo: Wikipedia).

David Taylor, the sponsor of Vanson's paintings and sculptures, said: 'Vanson's Sir John Maitland portrait is an important picture in the National Trust collection and remarkable discovery of the foot. The unfinished content of the Scottish Queen Mary is truly impressive. It shows that the portraits of the queen were copied and may be displayed in Scotland during the time she was still accepting. '

Dr. Caroline Rae added: 'Exploring the hidden portrait of Mary, Queen of Scotland is an interesting revelation, not only because it gives us new knowledge of portraits or patterns. The rose was used in the 16th century, but also helped to enlighten our understanding of Adrian Vanson, a Dutch artist who came to Jacobean Scotland to find a new life and quickly became a king of contemporary artists'.