Pentimento (Noun)
Meaning
The reappearance in a painting of an underlying image that had been painted over (usually when the later painting becomes transparent with age).
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The art historian carefully examined the old painting, looking for a pentimento that would provide insight into the artist's original intent.
- Over time, the later painting became transparent, revealing a pentimento of a figure that the artist had decided to remove.
- As the restorer delicately cleaned the painting, a pentimento of a previously unseen scene began to emerge from beneath the surface.
- The use of advanced imaging technology allowed researchers to detect a pentimento in the painting that had gone unnoticed for centuries.
- The artist's decision to reuse a canvas had left behind a pentimento that now provided a fascinating glimpse into the creation of the final work.