WASHINGTON (AP) — Sixteen paintings by American artist Gilbert Stuart are getting new life and showing their true colors for the first time in decades since they came to the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
A major conservation project is restoring the original appearance of Stuart's portraits of some U.S. founding fathers, including George Washington and John Adams.
Gallery conservators have been delicately removing yellowed varnish from Stuart's paintings to reveal true flesh tones and clothing colors.
Conservators tell The Associated Press the work may reveal some discoveries about Stuart's work. His "Vaughan-Sinclair" portrait of the first president from 1795 may actually be a more finished painting from an earlier time.
On a portrait of Abigail Adams, conservators believe they discovered her original headdress that was changed later.
