One of the most famous portraits of George Washington will soon get a high-tech examination and face-lift of sorts with its first major conservation treatment in decades. The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery has begun planning the conservation and digital analysis of the full-length 'Lansdowne' portrait of the first president that was painted by Gilbert Stuart in 1796, museum officials told The Associated Press. The 8-foot-by-5-foot picture is considered the definitive portrait of Washington as president after earlier images in military uniform. One of the most famous portraits of George Washington will soon get a high-tech examination and face-lift of sorts with its first major conservation treatment in decades
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The 8-foot-by-5-foot picture is considered the definitive portrait of Washington as president after earlier images in military uniform
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Conservators will use digital x-rays and infrared imagery for the first time to examine Stuart's work and changes he made beneath the painting's surface
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Portrait was originally painted for the Marquis of Lansdowne, who had been a British supporter of the colonies during the Revolutionary War
The images showed how @placeholder was having trouble adjusting the figure and objects in his original portrait, Molnar said.