Van Dyck: What Lies Beneath
The tables are turned on art detective Philip Mould as one of his own purchases - a painting by Sir Anthony Van Dyck - is put under the microscope.
Art detective Philip Mould has a reputation for finding sleepers - paintings that hide dark secrets. His most remarkable finds are pictures whose true authorship has been confused, masterpieces lost beneath years of dirt and over-painting. Although Philip is used to investigating other people's paintings, this time the tables are turned as Philip's own purchase is put under the microscope.
With his keen-eyed researcher Bendor Grosvenor, Philip has bought a painting that he says could be the find of a lifetime - a work by portrait painter Sir Anthony Van Dyck, one which is worth a small fortune. The only problem is that, in order to prove it, he will have to remove later layers of paint to uncover the truth. "It's a bit like open heart surgery," says Philip, as the expensive and irreversible process begins.
A thorough restoration is needed, and inches of canvas are cut away as an earlier image begins to appear. Fiona is not convinced, and insists that the work undergoes a thorough investigation and is authenticated by an independent Van Dyck expert. Will Philip's reputation and the painting make it to the end of the journey unscathed?
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What lies beneath
Duration: 01:28
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
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City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra - Chevaliers de Sangreal
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London Music Works
Hello Zep
- Saw Soundtrack.
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Ruskin Williamson
Dust Tail
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Nigel W Graham & Christian Telford
Propelling Force
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Brian Eno
Drift
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Brian Eno
Empty Landscapes
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Ruskin Williamson
Blueschist
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Ruth Barrett
Electricity
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Ruth Barrett
Whispering Fields
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City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra - Eptesicus
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Ludovico Einaudi
Nightbook
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City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra - Kaleidoscope of Mathematics
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Brian Eno
Dawn Marshland
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London Music Works
Bumblebee
- Transformers Soundtrack.
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Joby Talbot
Incubator
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City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra - Basic Instinct
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Nigel W Graham & Christian Telford
Lux Aeterna
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Nigel W Graham & Christian Telford
Illumination
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Sigur RΓ³s
Ekki Mul
- Instrumental.
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Brian Eno
Small Craft on a Milk Sea
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Sigur RΓ³s
Daucoalogn
- Instrumental.
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City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra - The Labyrinth
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London Music Works
160 Bpm
- Angels & Demons Soundtrack.
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London Music Works
In the House, In a Heartbeat
- 28 Days Later Soundtrack.
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Sigur RΓ³s
Rembihnul Tur
- Instrumental.
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Fiona Bruce |
| Presenter | Fiona Bruce |
| Presenter | Philip Mould |
| Producer | Rachel Jardine |
| Producer | Rachel Jardine |
| Director | Rachel Jardine |
| Director | Rachel Jardine |
| Series Producer | Simon Shaw |
| Series Producer | Simon Shaw |
Broadcasts
- Sun 30 Sep 2012 19:00
- Sat 15 Dec 2012 02:00
How to contact us
Get in touch if you think you have a lost masterpiece.