The 18th-century painting hanging in the U.S. embassy in Paris had previously been the subject of botched restoration attempts.
In 1779, the American artist Charles Willson Peale painted a portrait of George Washington, depicting the president after an American victory over the British at the 1777 Battle of Princeton. Peale made several copies of this painting, and four were presented as diplomatic gifts to European leaders.
One of these copies has long hung in the United States embassy in Paris, and a recent research project verified that the work is indeed a Peale. Now, it’s heading off to be restored by conservators at the Centre for Research and Restoration of the Museums of France in Versailles.
The project’s goals include “cleaning, improving structural support, reversing past restorations and restoring losses faithfully to the artist’s intent.”
Previous “botched” restoration attempts involved a “clumsy repainting of the founding father’s face,” says Artnet, and these changes weren’t documented and don’t reflect Peale’s intentions.
The painting’s strange alterations may be explained by its tumultuous past, which was revealed through extensive research during the authentication process. According to the Office of Cultural Heritage, the portrait - along with the ship carrying it - were captured by the British, so “It could have been damaged on purpose.”
After the restoration concludes this summer, the piece will return to the U.S. embassy in Paris.
According to Le Monde, the painting is worth approximately $22 million.